Centre for Political Studies

Peter Metrak

Ideology and aims

CEPOS started its work on March 10th 2005 as a classical liberal-conservative think-tank in Denmark. CEPOS promotes a society based on economic freedom, wishing to reform and limit direct and indirect economic support from the public authorities to the population. Additionally, CEPOS promotes rule of law, responsibility and democracy. CEPOS is also in favour of private initiatives and limited government sustained by healthy institutions of family, civil associations and cultural life. According to CEPOS, government support shall benefit only the disadvantaged and will be abolished for people who can support themselves. Moreover, CEPOS encourages competition, supports free markets and global free trade, and opposes government subsidies to businesses. It is known that CEPOS does not work at the request of any political party, public authority, commercial enterprise, organization or individual. CEPOS mainly aims for furthering and strengthening the foundations of a freely functioning society. CEPOS is dedicated to extending personal and economic freedom and its researches are supporters of tax-cuts and private enterprise. In addition to that, Danish think-tank is in favour of opening Danish borders for emigration and lesser regulation. CEPOS is also known as an opponent of increased public surveillance, anti-terrorism laws that curtail civil liberties as well as criminalizing victimless crime.

Background and Means

CEPOS is the Danish Centre for Political Studies - an independent research institution, recognized under the Danish state. CEPOS was founded in 2004 by Danish academic, arts, business and media representatives, thinkers and cultural personalities. CEPOS has been described as a leading and serious voice in the Danish debate on taxation, regulation, and welfare, as well as schools, education and integration and are frequently quoted in the media. CEPOS is recognized by the Danish state as an official research institution, a title only given institutions that produce knowledge of equal quality to that of Danish universities.

CEPOS seek to influence the political debate and thereby the political decisions by

Connections

CEPOS is a participant of the Economic Freedom of the World Network and International Property Right Index. CEPOS is also linked to Stockholm Network , amongst other market orientated think tanks in Europe. In addition, CEPOS is linked to the Institute for Energy Research (IER) and American Oil and Coal Lobby by whom was supported financially. Another CEPOS connection to be stated is the Atlas Economic Research Foundation and John Templeton Foundation from both CEPOS received awards as one of the best think tanks in the world.

CEPOS Views on Climate Change

Martin Agerup stated after 2009 UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen that “we should not confuse climate and weather”. “The world leaders are about to try to reach an agreement [on climate change] with the wrong approach,” insists Agerup, “They want to commit themselves to some firm targets about how to reduce emissions. I think this is wrong. We need to look on putting a price on carbon and then see how much reduction we get out of that.” Agerup is of the opinion that climate change agreement was created because it would be inconceivable for leaders to end the conference without any agreement. Therefore “they are going to celebrate some kind of agreement.” It is going to be more costly than what the world will get out of it “but this is the way things are,” says the economist. Agerup. Additionally to that he stated that other pressing issues need to be taken into account. “It’s not the end of the world, it is not the world’s biggest problem, millions of people die of all kinds of diseases… Poverty is the main issue we have to deal with.”

CEPOS University

CEPOS launched its own university - CEPOS University in 2006, considered by other Danish universities as a high level university in terms of offered classes and learning. At the CEPOS University courses are taught by number of professors, the best teachers from universities, business leaders as well as media analysts. At the CEPOS University economic and political problems are discussed, following the free market and classical liberalism ideas. Additionally, CEPOS University offers number of summer seminars focused on everything from history and human rights to economics and law. CEPOS University offers serious involvement into politics without being attached to a particular party. Moreover, CEPOS University offers unique opportunity for anyone with a critical approach toward the current social debate.

CEPOS Freedom Award

CEPOS recently instituted an annual freedom award. This year, the prize, along with DKK 300,000 will be awarded to the Cuban dissident, Yoani Sánchez who, through her blog ’Generación Y’, demands the right to exercise her freedom of speech. By criticizing the current conditions in Cuba, Yoani risks facing imprisonment for years as other Cubans who have dared to utter the mildest critique of the Communist regime. Martin Ågerup concluded that despite the huge personal costs, Yoani Sánchez has shown amazing courage by expressing her honest and personal opinion of the society she currently lives in. Moreover, she has managed to keep focus on one of the world’s most suffocating dictatorships. CEPOS wished to show admiration of her courage and dedication by awarding her this annual prize.

Funding

From the time of its inception, CEPOS has been bringing in the necessary grants and contributions from foundations, corporations, and individual sponsors. However, it is commonly known, that some of the organisations that challenge scientific warnings about the climate change have refused to reveal who finances their work. The absence of transparency rules in Europe allowed European independent think tanks to behave in a secretive fashion. CEPOS was among groups that refused to give precise details about how they are funded. According to Greenpeace report, Koch Industries, a U.S. conglomerate dominated by oil and chemical interest, by financing various groups, aim to deny climate change and oppose clean energy. According to Greenpeace, from 2005 to 2009, Koch Industries contributed almost 25 million dollars to groups opposing renewable energy and decisive action aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. One of the research institutions linked to Koch Industries was CEPOS in Denmark. CEPOS in its publication questioned if Denmark’s investment in wind power was bringing environmental benefits and that publication was supported financially by the Institute for Energy Research (IER) in the U.S. That institute, in turn, according to Greenpeace, had been aided by Koch Industries. CEPOS Chief Executive made a controversial statement questioned whether CEPOS has ever received financial help from the fossil fuel industry, and who has been funding CEPOS and was a main donor. He generally replied ‘no’ and added that they don’t give out information about donors. However, according to Greenpeace, climate deniers create enough doubt about the climate science to limit public pressure on governments to act on climate change. Defending CEPOS irresponsibility accusations and disinformation about climate change, Martin Agerup stated that he is in favour of a free market approach towards environmental issues. He added that he is not denying that climate change is happening. However he added that he is septic towards the current approach on fixed targets of reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and legally-binding international agreements regarding this matter. Martin Agerup has admitted that the money was given to them through the "Institute for Energy Research" a lobby organization funded by the American coal and oil industries. Agerup claimed that he did not know the Institute for Energy Research was a lobby organization, and thought it was, like CEPOS, a think tank.

People

The chairman of the CEPOS board is Bernt Johan Collet, a former Danish Minister of Defense. He also serves as a chamberlain at Her Majesty's Court. Moreover, Bernt Johan Collet is Master of the Royal Hunt.

Another important person is Martin Agerup, Chief Executive for Cepos, economist and economic historian.

• Angela Brink, Journalist and head of communications and Public Affairs in CEPOS

• Henrik Christofferson, from 2008 Research Director at CEPOS. Between 1983 an 2008 Henrik Christofferson was a Head of Research in Applied Municipal Research, AKF. Earlier, from 1975 he was a deputy department head in the National Association of Municipalities and also from 1976 to this day; Christofferson is an Associate Professor of Public Spending Policy and Housing Economics, at the University of Copenhagen.

• Mads Lundby Hansen, M.Sc. in Economics, Vice President and Chief Economist. Hansen acts as a Chief Economist at CEPOS from 2005. Between 2001 and 2005 he worked as Chief Economist in The Danish Liberal Party and from 1998 to 2001 as Economist in the Danish Ministry of Finance's Office of Fiscal Policy. Moreover, from 1996 to 1998, Hansen worked as Economist in the Danish Ministry of Economic Affairs at the International Office. Mads has also taught Economics at the University of Copenhagen.

• Henrik Gade Jensen, from 2005 Project Leader at CEPOS and Director of CEPOS University, M.A in Philosophy, Sr. Fellow at CEPOS. Between years 2002 and 2003, Press Secretary in the Danish Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs. Additionally, between years 1989 – 2007, Part-time lecturer at the University of Copenhagen. Moreover, Henrik Gade Jensen is a frequent contributor to the public debate as a columnist at several daily national newspapers, including Berlingske Tidende, Politiken, Jyllands-posten and Kristeligt Dagblad.

• Jacob Mchangama, from 2008 is the Head Director of Legal Affairs at CEPOS. 2007–2008, Lawyer at the major Danish law firm Plesner. He specialized in mergers & acquisitions, and private equity In 2007, Jacob was admitted to the bar while working at Plesner, where he was part of the Corporate Finance department. 2004–2007, Assistant lawyer at Eversheds, where he worked with general corporate and commercial law, with special focus on mergers & acquisitions and venture capital. Moreover, since 2005, Jacob has been Part-time lecturer in International Human Rights and Public International Law at the University of Copenhagen. His work focuses on the rule of law, civil liberties, human rights, constitutional matters and regulation. In addition to his law degree Jacob has a Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation from the European Inter-University Centre with stays in Venice and Strasbourg.

• Martin Agerup, M.A. in Economic History, CEO. Martin is an Economist and Economic Historian, and graduated from the Universities in Bristol and Exeter, England. He is a former member of the Danish European Movement's Executive Committee and is a member of the Danish European Movement's think tank "Yes to Europe". In addition to this Martin is a Fellow of the International Policy Network in London. From 2004 at CEPOS, where he is Chief Executive. 2002 – 2004 Martin was an Independent Consultant. Associated with GCI Future. From 1998 to 2002, worked as Management-Consultant in Connector LLC, where he worked primarily with organizational development in the public and private sector, evaluation assignments, value-based management and project management. Furthermore, he advised on the ideas and technologies that shape the future. From 1992 to 1998 Michael Agerup was Researcher and later Project Manager at the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies. Martin worked on sector analysis (specifically on the transportation sector) evaluation, analysis and the development of labour market, new technology, globalization, trends and attitudes and interview surveys. In addition, Martin Agerup has contributed to a number of books and authored and published several bestsellers in Danish.

CEPOS report on wind energy

One of the studies made for CEPOS that received a great deal of attention was the study by Hugh Sharman on Danish wind experience. The main points made by author were on the costs of Danish power and on wind and the implications for the US. It is known that the cost of electricity in Denmark is high, but as the CEPOS study points out, this has not resulted from wind deployment, but from Danish tax policies. According to the European Union's statistics prepared by Eurostat, the pre-tax price of electricity for an average household in Denmark is almost equal to an average household in Europe. CEPOS emphasises that after taxation, the price of electricity significantly rises and is much higher than in Europe. CEPOS stresses that although Denmark is a small country, but has been able to develop a great deal of wind power. The reason for that power is that Denmark is strongly inter-connected with its neighbours, Germany, Norway and Sweden. As a result Denmark can use their hydropower to balance the fluctuations that wind imposes on the system. Denmark has no electricity storage within its electricity system and because of the fact that Denmark neighbours have much larger power systems, they balance the stochastic variations in Denmark's wind power, turning their hydropower systems up and down. Hugh Sharman explains that these neighbouring countries play a role of the 'electric storage batteries' for Denmark. CEPOS recently criticised the performance of Danish wind energy. CEPOS made a controversial study on wind energy, claiming that most of the Danish wind power has been recently exported as well as using wind turbines in Denmark is an expensive way of reducing emissions of CO2. CEPOS stated in its report that usage of wind turbines causes energy taxes rising for private consumers in Denmark. The CEPOS report - many controversies rose around – It is known that CEPOS has been criticised for spreading disinformation regarding the Danish wind industry. CEPOS has been known as an opinion-maker on controversial issues. One of the issues CEPOS was involved in was a survey on satisfaction of Muslim immigrants living in Denmark. It is known that a survey conducted by Statistics Denmark.

CEPOS recently criticised the performance of Danish wind energy. CEPOS made a controversial study on wind energy, claiming that most of the Danish wind power has ben recently exported as well as using wind turbines in Denmark is an expensive way of reducing emissions of CO2. CEPOS stated in its report that usage of wind turbines causes energy taxes rising for private consumers in Denmark. The CEPOS report - many controversies rose around -

CEPOS admitted that its report on Denmark’s wind energy was commissioned and paid for by US think tank with close ties to the coal and oil industries. The report claimed that the Danish wind energy figures were misleading and indicated that Danish wind turbine industry model was not effective. CEPOS report has been strongly criticised by the numerous experts for its conclusions. Martin Agerup, after strong critique, admitted that the report was commissioned and paid for by Institute for Energy Research (IER) but in a defense he added that he was not aware of IER receiving funding from the coal and oil industry. Agerup admitted, however, that he and report author, Hugh Sharman, were made aware of the relationship between IER and the American coal and oil industries. Agerup emphasized that IER financing the wind energy report agreed for fully independent conclusion and the assessments made by CEPOS.

Controversies and US connections

It is known that CEPOS has been criticised for spreading disinformation regarding the Danish wind industry. CEPOS was accused of spending time and money in the United States spreading disinformation regarding the Danish wind industry. It is believed that facts and figures distributing by CEPOS have never been checked by university experts to get feedback. CEPOS was also accused for rushing their misinformation to the American news media. David E. Nye, one of the authors who criticised CEPOS report stated that if CEPOS really believed in the free market, they would not need to use their resources to attack Danish wind energy, because if they are right, wind power would lose out in competition with other alternatives. There were many questions asked, what was the purpose of spreading disinformation about Denmark in the United States and who CEPOS is really working for? Moreover, who is donating money to support CEPOS? CEPOS was accused of not being a think tank. ‘’CEPOS is not a think tank, it is a gun for hire, perhaps one that is quite willing to work with groups that deny the existence of global warming.’’

Main publications

Analyses published by CEPOS, according to authors, support the wish to create and disseminate new knowledge regarding the organization of society. CEPOS independently delivers notes that describe the organization of the welfare society. CEPOS also supplies policy proposals that contribute to a freer and wealthier society. CEPOS produces both academic research and policy analyses on a wide range of issues, including education, immigration, legal reform, taxation, regulation and the public sector. They host numerous conferences a year and have attracted high-level speakers. CEPOS publications aim to provide information analysis, which can form the basis for decisions and debate.

CEPOS has been known as an opinion-maker on controversial issues. One of the issues CEPOS was ivolved in was a survey on satisfaction of muslim immigrants living in Denmark. It is known that a survey conducted by Statistics Denmark

Awards

CEPOS is a five-time winner of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation and John Templeton Foundation awards given to the best think tanks around the world. CEPOS was awarded in the 2006 Templeton Freedom Award - Honourable Mention, following by 2007 Templeton Freedom Award Grant. In addition, CEPOS won 2007 Templeton Freedom Prize for Initiative in Public Relations, Second Place and in 2008 Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award for best book published by a think tank. Moreover, CEPOS was recently awarded in the 2009 Fisher Venture Grant Award.