Centre for Political Studies

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CEPOS is the Danish Centre for Political Studies - a Danish think tank founded in 2004 with the stated aim of 'promoting a society based on freedom, responsibility, private initiative and limited government'.[1] The 'independent research institution' was founded by 'Danish academic, arts, business and media representatives, thinkers and cultural personalities'.[2]

According to their website, CEPOS seek to influence government policy by:

  • generating new knowledge about social organization through analysis and research.
  • developing solutions and practical policy proposals.
  • influencing present and future decision makers through media, meetings, conferences, publications and education.[3]


Cepos is part of the Stockholm Network [4] a working group of European market-oriented think-tanks. According to the Atlas Network:

CEPOS has been instrumental in bringing a taxation debate to Denmark, working tirelessly for lower taxes. In addition to taxation, CEPOS focuses on other policy issues that work to limit the size and scope of the Danish government.[5]


Ideology and aims

CEPOS started its work on March 10th 2005 as a classical liberal-conservative think-tank in Denmark. According to their website 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'. CEPOS has three main aims stated on their website, these are:

  • to contribute to more personal and economic freedom, rule of law and democracy as well as a limited government sustained by healthy civil institutions such as family, civil associations and cultural life.
  • to reform and limit direct and indirect economic support from the public authorities to the population. Government support shall benefit only the disadvantaged and will be abolished for people who can support themselves.
  • to encourage competition, supports free markets and global free trade, and opposes government subsidies to businesses.

Cepos also assert their independence by arguing that they 'do not work at the request of any political party, public authority, commercial enterprise, organization or individual'.[6]

Funding and wind power controversy

A CEPOS report criticising Denmark's investment in wind farms was funded by the Institute for Energy Research (IER) a group with close links to Koch Industries, the IER president Thomas Pyle is a former Koch lobbyist.[7]

The report argued that 'more than half of Denmark's wind power is exported, wasting taxpayer money without reducing overall CO2 emissions' it was released right before the Copenhagen climate change conference in 2009 and it 'made waves in the U.S. media'.[8] The report was disseminated it in the United States under the title 'Something Rotten? Obama Says Danes Receive 20% of Their Power Via Wind; New Study Tells the Real Story.'

CEPOS were criticised by academics at Aalborg university because their research 'incorrectly interprets statistics and doesn't understand how the international electricity markets operate'. Professor Frede Hvelplund argued that:

We've been studying renewable energy for two decades here at the university. When we saw something that was obviously incorrect, we had to react.[9]

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 price of electricity for a 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. It is known that CEPOS has been criticised for spreading disinformation regarding the Danish wind industry. [10] <youtube align="right" width="small" height="100">qgUsun3hIT0</youtube> 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.[11]


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?[12] 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.’’[13]


CEPOS University and educational work

In 2006 Cepos launched the Cepos University [14] an institution 'which educates university students about free market ideas'[15]. According to the Atlas Network, Cepos planned to create 'a network of liberal minded supporters in Denmark, offering education to policy makers on free markets and extending their education to high school students'.[16]

CEPOS Freedom Award

CEPOS recently instituted an annual freedom award. In the 2010, 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.[17]


Publications

Cepos publishes research on a wide range of social and economic issues, a sample of these can be found on the page Cepos publications.[18]

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.[19]

People

Employees

Angela Brink | Henrik Christofferson | Mads Lundby Hansen | Henrik Gade Jensen | Jacob Mchangama | Martin Agerup

Founders

Poul Schlüter | , Uffe Ellemann-Jensen | Bent Blüdnikow | Nicolai Juul Foss | Jesper Lau Hansen | Bent Fabricius-Bjerre | Bernt Johan Collet Christopher Arzrouni, Special advisor | Rolf Bagger, Author | Annelise Bidstrup, Editor | Sven Blomberg, Chief Executive Officer | Bent Blüdnikow, Editor and Historian | Jesper Bruun Rasmussen, Auctioneer | Bernt Johan Collet, former Minister for Defence | Peter la Cour, Publisher | Anne-Sofie Dahl, Associate Professor, Ph.D. | Jan Duckert, Chief Executive Officer | Kasper Elbjørn, PR and Project Manager | Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, former Minister for Foreign Affairs | Bent Fabricius-Bjerre, Composer | Herman Federspiel, Attorney | Henning Fonsmark, Author | Nicolai Juul Foss, Professor, Ph.D. | Nils Foss, Chief Executive Officer | Nikolaj Gammeltoft, Head of Section | David Gress, Associate Professor, Ph.D. | Morten Grunwald, Actor, Theatre Manager | Peter Gæmelke, President of the Danish Agricultural Council | Jesper Lau Hansen, Professor, LL.D. | Claes Kastholm Hansen, Author | Morten Hesseldahl, Publisher | Kjeld Hillingsø, Lt. General | Ulrik Høy, Author | Bent Jensen, Professor, Ph.D. | Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard, Associate Professor, Ph.D. | Steen Langebæk, Chief Executive Officer | Henrik Lando, Professor, Ph.D. | Michael Laudrup, Football Player and Coach | Henrik Bach Mortensen, Director of the Confederation of Danish Employers (DA) | Karoly Nemeth, Attorney[20]

Board of Directors

Christian Bjørnskov, Associate Professor Ph.D. | Jørgen Mads Clausen, Chief Executive Officer | Bernt Johan Collet (Chairman), Chief Executive Officer former Minister for Defence | Jan Duckert, Chief Executive Officer | Helene Haabegaard, Student | Bjørn Høi Jensen, MA and Senior Advisor for EQT - private equity foundation | Jesper Lau Hansen (Vice Chairman), Professor Doctor of Laws

Centre Council

CEPOS highest authority is the Centre Council. The Council is composed of top executives from the business community, scholars in social science, opinion formers and other intellectuals with whom the Board of Directors consider it important to be in close contact.[21]

Finn Poulsen, Managing Director | Samuel Rachlin, Editor, MA. | Jens Ringsmose, Research fellow, MA | Sven Hakon Rossel, Professor | Rethe Rostbøll, Former Minister, MA | Annette Sadolin, Managing Director, BLL | Louise Ry, Managing Director | Jonny Trapp Steffensen, Ph.d., assistant professor | nud Sørensen, Former bank manager | Ditlev Tamm, Professor, Doctor of Laws and Philosophy | Edith Thingstrup, Rector, BD | Søren Toft, Chief Consultant, MA in Political Science | Mikael Thoustrup, Student of Commerce | Peter Vesterdorf, Office manager, Ph.D Law | Thomas Voss, Managing Director | Henrik Wedell-Wedellsborg, Lawyer, partner | Anders Wivel, Senior lecturer, Ph.D. | Jarne Nielsen, Management Advisor | Flemming Steen Nielsen, Associate professor, Doctor of Philosophy | Mikael Bonde Nielsen, Chief of Communication, MA in Political Science | Henning Kruse Petersen, Managing Director, LLD | Jesper Lau Hansen, Professor, LLD | Christian Herskind, Managing Director, LLD | Lars Hvidberg, Writer

Advisory Board

Robert C. Waggoner, Professor of Economics, Harvard University (USA) | Carl Bildt, Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Prime Minister, MP and EU & UN Representative (Sweden) | James M. Buchanan, Jr., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Economics, Center for Study of Public Choice | Victoria Curzon-Price, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, l’Université de Genève, President, Mont Pélerin Society | Richard A. Epstein, James Parker Hall Distinguished Service Professor of Law, University of Chicago Law School (USA) | Nicolai Juul Foss, Ph.D., Professor Copenhagen Business School, Professor Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH) | Bruno S. Frey, Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult., Professor of Economics, University of Zurich (Switzerland) | Palle Marcus, Board Chairman, former Chief Executive Officer (Denmark) | Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard, Ph.D., Cand.Phil. M.A., Professor of Political Science, University of Copenhagen | Veronique de Rugy, Ph.D., Research Fellow, American Enterprise Institute (USA) | George Shultz, Former Secretary of State, Professor of Economics & Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University (USA) | Roger Scruton, Professor, University of Buckingham, Author, Philosopher (UK) | Niels C. Thygesen, Doctor of Political Science, Professor of International Economics, University of Copenhagen (Denmark)

Affiliations

Stockholm Network[22] | Fraser Institute[23] | Economic Freedom Network[24] | Atlas Economic Research Foundation[25] | Institute for Energy Research (IER)[26] | John Templeton Foundation[27]

Contact Information

Address:Landgreven 3, 3. sal
DK-1301 København K
/DK-1301 Copenhagen
Pho.: +45 33 45 60 30
Fax: +45 33 45 60 45
info@cepos.dk[28]

Notes

  1. ↑ Cepos, Centre for Policy Studies, CEPOS, Accessed 02-May-2012
  2. ↑ "[1]" CEPOS,accessed 18th November 2010
  3. ↑ "[2]" CEPOS,accessed 18th November 2010
  4. ↑ Think Tank details, Stockholm Network, accessed 7 April 2009.
  5. ↑ Atlas Network, FVG Winner: CEPOS, Denmark, Atlas Network, Accessed 07-May-2012
  6. ↑ "[3]" CEPOS;,accessed 18th November 2010
  7. ↑ David Cronin, Who Pays to Deny Climate Change, IPS, Accessed 08-May-2012
  8. ↑ Spotlight Vol. 10 No 9., RENEWABLE ENERGY: Dueling wind studies add turbulence to Denmark's energy debate, Climatewire, 01-November-2010
  9. ↑ Spotlight Vol. 10 No 9., RENEWABLE ENERGY: Dueling wind studies add turbulence to Denmark's energy debate, Climatewire, 01-November-2010
  10. ↑ "The Danish Wind Experience: Truth And Fiction",GREENandSAVE.com NEWS, Tuesday, 15 September 2009 10:30 accessed 9th November 2010
  11. ↑ "Oil industry behind critical wind energy report",The Copenhagen post online, Friday, 19 March 2010 10:30 accessed 7th November 2010
  12. ↑ "Did CEPOS Lie or are they Incompetent?",After the American Century - politics and culture, 25 February 2010 11:16 accessed 25th October 2010
  13. ↑ "[4]",After the American Century - politics and culture, 19 March 2010 01:48PM accessed 17th November 2010
  14. ↑ "CEPOS Universitet",CEPOS, accessed 9th November 2010
  15. ↑ Atlas Network, FVG Winner: CEPOS, Denmark, Atlas Network, Accessed 07-May-2012
  16. ↑ Atlas Network, FVG Winner: CEPOS, Denmark, Atlas Network, Accessed 07-May-2012
  17. ↑ "[5]",CEPOS, accessed 17th November 2010
  18. ↑ "Publications" CEPOS, accessed 18th November 2010
  19. ↑ "[6]",accessed 7th November 2010
  20. ↑ "[7]",accessed 17th November 2010
  21. ↑ "[8]",accessed 17th November 2010
  22. ↑ "[9]", accessed 17th November 2010
  23. ↑ "[10]", accessed 17th November 2010
  24. ↑ "[11]", accessed 17th November 2010
  25. ↑ "[12]", accessed 17th November 2010
  26. ↑ Institute for Energy Research, accessed 17th November 2010
  27. ↑ "[13]", accessed 17th November 2010
  28. ↑ "[14]" CEPOS,accessed 17th November 2010
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