Centre for Policy Studies

Centre for Policy Studies
AbbreviationCPS
Formation1974; 50 years ago (1974)
TypePublic policy think tank
Headquarters57 Tufton Street
Location
Coordinates51°29′46″N 0°07′42″W / 51.4961°N 0.1283°W / 51.4961; -0.1283
Chairman
Michael Spencer
Director
Robert Colvile
Founders
Keith Joseph
Margaret Thatcher
Fundingundisclosed
Websitewww.cps.org.uk

The Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) is a centre-right think tank and advocacy group in the United Kingdom. Its goal is to promote coherent and practical policies based on its founding principles of: free markets, "small state," low tax, national independence, self determination and responsibility.[1] While being independent, the centre has historical links to the Conservative Party.

It was co-founded by Sir Keith Joseph, Alfred Sherman and Margaret Thatcher[2] in 1974 to challenge the post war consensus of Keynesianism, and to champion economic liberalism in Britain.[1] With this in mind Keith Joseph originally wanted the think tank to study the social market economy, naming it the 'Ludwig Erhard Foundation' and 'Institute for a social market economy' until it was eventually settled on the benign 'Centre for Policy Studies'.[3][4]

The centre has since played a global role in the dissemination of free market economics alongside policy proposals claimed to be on the basis of responsibility and individual choice. It also asserts that it prioritises the concepts of duty, family, liberty, and the rule of law. The CPS states that it has a goal of serving as "the champion of the small state."[1]

  1. ^ a b c Andrew Denham and Mark Garnett Keith Joseph (Chesham 2001), p. 240
  2. ^ "Sir Alfred Sherman". The Daily Telegraph. 28 August 2006. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Why is Labour still so obsessed with the German model?". Politics.co.uk. 6 November 2015. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Why Britain Needs A Social Market Economy". www.cps.org.uk.