iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

There is something mildly satisfying about writing for ‘Pearls and Irritations’. Which descriptor works for a piece on how best to tax #housing wealth? johnmenadue.com/post/2026/07...

johnmenadue.com

New supply won't fix housing while investors keep winning

To fix the housing crisis, further reform is needed that shifts taxation away from earnings onto passive assets.

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Two National Academies in one go: the British Academy invites you to its Open House on Sunday next (it’s worth it just to see the building!); so does the Royal Society (practically next door). Enjoy. www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/searc...

thebritishacademy.ac.uk

Open House 2026

Step inside the British Academy’s historic Grade-I listed home for Open House Festival 2026. Discover the building’s Nash-designed architecture, its rich history, and art collection. Be among the firs...

032

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Worried about the mansion tax? Not sure that many #housing scholars can make much sense of it either. Here’s John Muellbauer FBA with a better, fairer, more workable option. There’s still time! www.inet.ox.ac.uk/publications...

inet.ox.ac.uk

No. 2026-24 - Property tax reform in England: a fresh look

The Starmer government’s 2025 Budget introduced the government’s High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS), which is an addition to an unchanged Council…

000

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

So much of, and in, the world is experienced and understood through music… week in, week out…

Stanhope band crossing the ford at the river Wear

Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band at Beamish museum

083

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Thought-provoking intervention that also profiles the opinion of three outstanding FBAs

033

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Where did that week go? What a tremendous turn out for a first rate meeting with a brilliant theme, superbly chaired!

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Great idea to tax residential property wealth progressively. Neither council tax nor this peculiar new surcharge fits that bill. Brilliant scholars with years of experience have a host of better, fairer, far more cost-effective proposals than this. Just saying… www.thetimes.com/article/42ab...

How mansion tax inspectors could get into your home and fine you £500

The government is targeting 165,000 homeowners for a surcharge — but when a state valuer is cleared to enter your property it’s a civil liberties matter, say experts

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Councils’ ‘right to sell’ long precedes tenants’ ‘right to buy’; it might be simpler and more even handed to restore the earlier status quo?

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Oh dear… 1440 under-occupied properties face quadruple council tax, unless perhaps some are exempt? All the other unused bedrooms are free; some even attract a 25% discount. Errr…. www.gbnews.com/money/counci...

gbnews.com

Thousands of second homeowners face £16,000 council tax bills under Edinburgh 'super-tax'

The proposed premium would apply to around 1,440 properties from January 2027

000

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Cutting to the chase, it’s a fine balance between changing preferences and shrinking opportunities…

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Incorrect decision, imho, if what you want is a fair property tax, and a workable way of funding local government…

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Chuffed to give an opening keynote at the RGS-IBG conference this year. That said, all the Chair’s events look unmissable. Great vision, as ever, from @peterhopkins.bsky.social www.rgs.org/research/ann...

rgs.org

Chair's events | Annual International Conference

Discover our line up of Chair's events and speakers for this year's Annual International Conference.

261

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

This is a fantastic resource; establishing it was an inspired move, keeping it on the road should be a priority.

001

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Just to be clear: replacing council tax with a fair property tax would not ruin landlords. It would, though, stop millions paying an order of magnitude more (as a proportion of the value of their homes) than others just because of where they live. www.thetimes.com/article/3393...

Why Andy Burnham’s property tax would ruin landlords

Fears that ‘preposterous’ plans to replace council tax will lead to higher rents and a shortage of homes

032

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Subjects that make a world of difference, lost to a generation… why take that risk?

1145

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Well that’s one to watch. I’ve appreciated Patrick Vallance’s tenure - those are big shoes to fill in any department…

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

‘At a time when society is grappling with radical uncertainty, in the face of technological, economic and environmental change, the humanities and social sciences have never been more important’. … www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/92-new-...

thebritishacademy.ac.uk

92 New Fellows welcomed to the British Academy in 2026

92 distinguished scholars have been elected to the British Academy’s Fellowship this year in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the humanities and social sciences.

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

‘Government must urgently rethink this decision and restore funding to arts courses to meet its own growth strategy and allow students from all backgrounds to pursue their creative career ambitions.’ www.ism.org/news/univers...

ism.org

Decision to cut HE arts funding is ‘devastating’ - Independent Society of Musicians

The Independent Society of Musicians calls on government to rethink decision to cut funding for music and arts university courses

022

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Hanging on to human ingenuity in an age of AI…

022

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

‘We need to show the power of science advising and why it’s so important in a functioning democracy’…

000

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

The present direction of travel risks irreversible damage to UK higher education, research and innovation, to scholarship, and to our capacity to shape the future…

083

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

More on the alarming direction of travel in Australian #housing www.housing-critical.com/home-page-1/...

housing-critical.com

Rentier Capitalism, Australian Style - Critical Housing Analysis

001

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

It’s the Ruths who are the litmus for the insane world of property tax. That dwindling minority who are running two homes get all the flack attracted by the Richards and none of the tax breaks available to the Henrys. Tackle property tax to level the playing field. www.thetimes.com/article/e51d...

In defence of the ‘Richards’ — the rich who refuse to downsize

Older people are made to feel guilty about simply having space. Here’s why that’s nonsense

000

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Aha, so: ‘The share of all mid- and entry-level job ads asking for human judgement has risen sharply over the past two years’. Time to tackle those those ‘cold spots’ in critical humanities and socials science subjects?

000

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

So, there IS an alternative! Bold policies can raise living standards, reduce inequality and improve sustainability. Another lesson in what’s to like from @wid.world globaljusticeproject.wid.world

globaljusticeproject.wid.world

Global Justice Project

030

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

So excited that this offer includes work with performing arts institutions as well as the GLAM sector. Nice long lead-in time too: open until 15 September 2026, earliest start 1 April 2027…

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Which is all very impressive but it doesn’t tackle the majority of under-occupation and is a fraction of what could be gained by applying a fair, progressive residential property tax across the board… www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Cumbria Council raises £11m in a year from second homes tax rise

Local authorities with many second homes are boosting their income by charging double council tax.

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Interesting snapshot of income inequality in the short-run. Worth contextualising in the longer-run, setting stock of wealth alongside flow of income?

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Probably worth saying more about the wide range of empirical research linking mortality and morbidity with measures of economic inequality… www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

UK sees steepest fall in healthy life expectancy of rich nations

Poor housing, obesity and the effects of deprivation have been suggested as underlying cause.

000

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

This is a new role packed with potential. An exciting direction of travel to get caught up in…

023

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Check out the British Academy’s signature small grants funding scheme: up to £10k over two years…

000

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Raising the marginal tax rate on savings interest is especially unfortunate for renters who can’t hold their assets in owner occupied homes where the return is tax free… www.thetimes.com/article/ceee...

The charts that show the tax pain savers are about to suffer

As the chancellor prepares to launch more tax raids on savings, we assess the impact of the changes

021

Susan J. Smith @sjs1869.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

The tax homes worth over £5m is less than the council tax surcharge levied by Edinburgh city council on Band F second homes worth about £400k. It would be simpler, fairer and probably easier to reform the whole crazy system. www.thetimes.com/article/6496...