Stockholm Network

The Stockholm Network is a working group of more than 120 market-oriented think tanks from across Europe. It calls itself "a one-stop shop for organisations seeking to work with Europe’s brightest policymakers and thinkers" and claims to have "the capacity to deliver local messages and locally-tailored global messages across the EU and beyond." The network churns out thousands of op-eds in the "high-quality European press", produces hundreds of publications and holds several conferences, seminars and meetings to "influence many millions of Europeans every year."

Writing in The Times in December 2005, Paul Staines wrote that the Stockholm Network, "turns out to be in fact the public face of Market House International, a PR consultancy that tells corporate clients that the network gives it 'local capacity to deliver both local messages and locally tailored global messages in a wide range of countries'."

Aims and Policy Issues

The Network is described as a forum for "sharing, exchanging and developing pan-European research and best practice." In order to promote ideas to stimulate economic growth, the Stockholm Network concentrates on the following policy issues:

• Reforming European welfare states and creating a more flexible labour market
• Updating European pension systems to empower individuals
• Ensuring more consumer-driven healthcare, through reform of European health systems and markets
• Encouraging an informed debate on intellectual property rights as an incentive to innovate and develop new knowledge in the future, whilst ensuring wide public access to such products in the present
• Reforming European energy markets to ensure the most beneficial balance between economic growth and environmental quality
• Emphasising the benefits of globalisation, trade and competition and creating an understanding of free market ideas and institutions.

History

The Stockholm Network was founded in September 1997 by Helen Disney, a British journalist and policy specialist, and initially managed by the Swedish think tank, Timbro. It later became part of Civitas, which was formerly known as the Health and Welfare Unit of the Institute for Economic Affairs. It has been independently run since 2004. Early aims (which extend to present day) were:

"to find an efficient method of connecting like-minded policymakers and thinkers; to encourage collaboration on joint research projects in order to share the most successful policy innovations and arguments more widely; and to ensure a wider audience and a more co-ordinated approach to the dissemination of market-oriented ideas within Europe and beyond its borders."

Funding

According to its website, the Stockholm Network receives funding from a variety of individuals, corporations, trade associations and foundations:

’A mixture of for-profit and not-for-profit organisations, some SN supporters are large global enterprises, while others are small or medium in size. Subscriptions from individuals, commercial enterprises, and a range of NGOs make up the bulk of our funding. We also derive a small income from the sale of our publications and research materials to the public, bookshops, government agencies and private companies. Corporate subscribers come from a wide range of sectors that currently include information technology, energy, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, entertainment, public affairs, and insurers.’

Funders, however, ‘do not have a veto over the outcome of Stockholm Network research or any influence over its media output.’ The network maintains that it does not accept payments intended to ‘purchase’ prearranged research outcomes. It also insists it is not a ‘front group’ for other organisations or individuals and that contributors are listed in full on its annual report and website.

The British connection

The network was founded in London and Stockholm, though it is operated out of London and has a large contingent of UK members. These are:

Adam Smith Institute | Centre for European Reform | Centre for Policy Studies | Centre for Research into Post-Communist Economies | CIVITAS | David Hume Institute | E.G. West Centre | Hayek Society | Institute of Economic Affairs | International Policy Network | Libertarian Alliance | Nurses for Reform | Open Europe | Policy Exchange | Policy Institute | Politeia | Project Empowerment | Reform | Social Affairs Unit | Globalization Institute

Some of these organisations are listed as part of the British conservative movement, Movement Conservatism, including the Institute of Economic Affairs, Reform, the Adam Smith Institute, Policy Exchange, Civitas, International Policy Network.

Members

Adam Smith Institute, UK | Adam Smith Society, Italy | Adriatic Institute for Public Policy | Albanian Liberal Institute, Albania | Anders Chydenius Foundation, Finland | Association for Liberal Thinking, Turkey | Association for Modern Economy, Macedonia | Avenir Suisse, Switzerland | Bertil Ohlin Institute, Sweden | Bulgaria Society for Individual Liberty, Bulgaria | Causa Liberal, Portugal | Centre for Democracy and Free Enterprise, Czech Republic | Centre for Economic Development, Bulgaria | Centre for Economic Development, Slovakia | Centre for Economics and Politics, Czech Republic | Centre for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, Montenegro | Centre for European Reform, UK | Centre for Institutional Analysis and Development | Centre for Liberal Strategies, Bulgaria | Centre for Liberal-Democratic Studies, Serbia | Centre for Policy Studies, UK | Centre for Political Thought, Poland | Centre for Research into Post-Communist Economies, UK | Centre for Social and Economic Research, Poland | Centre for the New Europe | Centre for the Study of Democracy, Bulgaria | Centro Einaudi, Italy | Cercles Liberaux, France | CIDAS, Italy | Civic Institute, Czech Republic | Civita, Norway | CIVITAS, United Kingdom | Conservative Institute of M. R. Stefanik, Slovakia | Council on Public Policy, Germany | David Hume Institute, United Kingdom | E.G. West Centre, UK | Economic Policy Research Institute, Macedonia | Ekome, Greece | Eudoxa, Sweden | Euro 92 (think tank), France | European Ideas Network, Brussels | European Independent Institute, The Netherlands | EVA (think tank), Finland | F. A. v. Hayek Institute, Austria | Fondazione Luigi Einaudi, Italy | Foundation for Market Economy, Hungary | Frédéric Bastiat Stichting, The Netherlands | Free Market Centre, Serbia | Freedom Institute, Ireland | Friedrich Naumann Stiftung, Germany | Friedrich von Hayek Gesellschaft, Germany | Fundacio Catalunya Oberta, Spain | Fundacion Internacional para la Libertad (FIL), Spain | Gdansk Institute for Market Economics, Poland | Hayek Foundation, Russia | Hayek Foundation, Slovakia | Hayek Society, Hungary | Hayek Society, LSE, London | Health Consumer Powerhouse, Belgium | Health Reform, Czech Republic | Hellenic Leadership Institute | IFRAP, France | Independent Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Studies, Belarus | INEKO, Slovakia | Institut Constant de Rebecque, Switzerland | Institut Economique Molinari, Belgium | Institut Hayek, Belgium | Institut Karla Havlicka Borovskeho, Czech Republic | Institut Montaigne, France | Institut Turgot, France | Institute for Economic Studies Europe, Aix-en-Provence | Institute for Free Enterprise, Germany | Institute for Free Society, Slovakia | Institute for International Relations, Croatia | Institute for Market Economics (IME), Bulgaria | Institute for Strategic Studies and Prognosis, Montenegro | Institute for Transistional Democracy and International Security, Hungary | Institute of Economic Affairs, UK | Institute of Economic Analysis, Russia | Institute of Economic Studies, Iceland | Institute of Economics (Ekonomski Institut), Croatia | Instituto Juan de Mariana, Spain | Instytut Liberalno-Konserwatywny, Poland | International Centre for Economic Research, Italy | International Council for Capital Formation, Brussels | International Policy Network, United Kingdom | Istituto Acton, Italy | Istituto Bruno Leoni, Italy | Jaan Tonisson Institut, Estonia | Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies, Israel | Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Germany | Liberales Institut, Switzerland | Liberales, Belgium | Liberalni Institute, Czech Republic | Libertarian Alliance, United Kingdom | Libertas (think tank) | Liberty Ideas, Austria | Lithuanian Free Market Institute | Ludwig von Mises Institute Europe, Brussels | Ludwig von Mises Institute, Romania | M.E.S.A. 10, Slovakia | Magna Carta Foundation, Italy | New Economic School, Georgia | New Economics School, Russia | New Social Market Economy Foundation, Germany | Nova Civitas, Belgium | Nova Res Publica, Italy | Nurses for Reform, created in 2006. | Open Europe, United Kingdom | Open Republic Institute | Poder Limitado, Spain | Policy Exchange, United Kingdom | Policy Institute, United Kingdom | Politeia, United Kingdom | Project Empowerment, United Kingdom | Ratio Institute, Sweden | Reform, United Kingdom | Riinvest Institute for Development Research, Kosovo | Romania Think Tank | Romanian Centre for Economic Policies | Sauvegarde Retraites (Save the Pensions), France | Social Affairs Unit, London | Stiftung Marktwirtschaft, Germany | Taxpayers' Alliance | Telders Foundation, Netherlands | The Copenhagen Institute, Denmark | Globalization Institute, United Kingdom | Think Tank for International Governance Research, Austria | Thomas More Institute, Belgium | Timbro, Sweden | Ukrainian Centre for Independent Political Research | Venezie Institute, Italy | Walter Eucken Institut, Germany

People

The Stockholm Network does not have a board and is owned and run by Helen Disney.

Personnel

• Helen Disney, Director
• Rick Nye, Company Secretary, also a director of opinion pollsters Populus
• Anne Jensen, Project Officer, IP, Competition and Trade programme
• Sacha Kumaria, is the Stockholm Network's Assistant Director.
• Peter Nolan is the Stockholm Network Director of Environmental Affairs.
• Terry O'Dwyer, Manager, Health and Welfare programme

Health and Welfare Programme

The Stockholm Network's Health and Welfare Programme was set up at the end of 2005. Key aims and objectives include:

• Providing a comprehensive resource on European think tank initiatives in the field of Health and Welfare
• Promoting competition and choice in healthcare, through reform of European health systems and markets
• Promoting more flexible labour markets in Europe
• Promoting market oriented reform of Europe's failing pensions systems

'The UK Pharmaceutical Industry: Current Challenges and Future Solutions'

In 2009, the Stockholm Network published a reported, The UK Pharmaceutical Industry: Current Challenges and Future Solutions, calling for the UK Government to fund the pharmaceutical industry. According to the publication written by Ross Carroll and Stuart Carroll, ‘[A] lack of government investment is another factor adversely affecting the UK pharmaceutical industry.’ The report, which was a part of the ‘Stockholm Network Experts’ Series’, also called a reduction in the rate of UK corporation tax; tax credits for new product introduction and technological development; and the simplification of ‘taxation rules and reduce the burden of complex legislation and regulation through the utilisation of cutting-edge approaches.’ The publication was allegedly criticised by other free-market think tanks. According to emails seen by the Telegraph, the head of one said: “The whole thing is mad. I cannot imagine any free market think tank now being able to stay in membership [of the Stockholm Network].” Another claimed:

"As far as I can see this is the end of the Stockholm Network as a network for European free market think tanks. It might however be the opening attempt at some sort of consultancy… Whatever, the whole thing is totally —— up: big time."

The Science-Democracy Debate

In 2005, the Stockholm Network co-sponsored the ‘Westminster Fringe Debate’ with the motion “Democratisation of science would not be in the public interest”. According to the organisers:

“Science is driven by curiosity. Would any attempt to put that under greater public scrutiny deaden scientific inquiry or must scientists now come to terms with the fears and priorities of society at large? And is public accountability a meaningful concept in science? Scientists may not know what they are going to discover when they start experimenting or to what use it may ultimately be put. Are the public qualified to determine the priorities of scientific research? Is that untrammelled freedom for science out of date and dangerous?”

Lord Dick Taverne from Sense About Science and Colin Blakemore, who was Chief Executive of the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) at the time, supported the motion which was carried.

Health Publications

2010

• Paul Healy, Dr Meir Pugatch and Helen Disney authored Weathering the Storm: Central and Eastern European (CEE) Healthcare in Financial Crisis. The authors concluded:

"This paper has attempted to reiterate the successes that have been achieved in the CEE region, in regards to reforming healthcare. However, it has also highlighted the threat that is posed to CEE countries’ achievements in health by the financial crisis and an evermore uncertain fiscal future. It is argued that through the introduction of public-private partnerships, a greater mix of financing models and increased competition the obstacles posed by the financial crisis can be resolved and the future of healthcare in the region can be a continuation in the success story, as opposed to a turnaround of fortunes."

• Dr David Torstensson and Dr Meir Pugatch authored Keeping Medicines Safe: A Study of the Regulations Guiding the Approval of Medicines in Emerging Markets.

• Rachel Chu and Dr Meir Pugatch authored From Test Tube to Patient: National Innovation Strategies for the Biomedical Field.

Links to American Organisations

The Stockholm Network is listed on the website for the Atlas Economic Research Foundation , an American organisation based near Washington that “serves as a catalyst and connector to link free-market organizations and individuals to the ideas, people and resources they need to promote a free society.”

Contact, References and Resources

Contact information

35 Britannia Row

London, N1 8QH

United Kingdom

Email: info@ stockholm-network.org

Phone: +44 (0)20 7354 8888

Fax: +44 (0)20 7359 8888

Web: www.stockholm-network.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stockholm-Network/135765338804

External links

• Wikipedia Stockholm Network
• SourceWatch Stockholm Network on SourceWatch
• Corporate Europe Observatory, "Covert industry funding fuels the expansion of radical rightwing EU think tanks", July 2005.
• Paul Staines, "You want policy? In cash?", The Times (London), 20 December 2005, Page 19.

• Helen Disney, Karen Horn, Pavel Hrobon, Johan Hjertqvist, Alastair Kilmarnock, Andreas Mihm, Alberto Mingardi, Cécile Philippe, David Smith, Eline van den Broek, Gerrold Verhoeks Impatient for Change: European attitudes to healthcare reform 13 May 2004.