Why Campaign Groups HATE Real Solutions | IEA Briefing

Dr Christopher Snowdon joins us to discuss the "Not Invented Here" syndrome in activist groups and policy campaigns. From weight loss drugs to e-cigarettes, nuclear power to GM foods, Snowdon explores how campaign groups often resist practical solutions that weren't developed by their own organisations - even when these solutions clearly work. Using real-world examples, Snowdon breaks down how activist groups frequently prefer radical societal changes over pragmatic fixes. He examines cases like public health groups opposing effective weight loss medications while pushing for dramatic changes to food environments, and environmental groups rejecting nuclear power despite its clear benefits for reducing emissions. The conversation reveals how institutional preferences and ideological commitments can sometimes override stated goals. The discussion dives into why this resistance happens, from the sunk cost fallacy to anti-corporate sentiment, and explores what it means for solving major societal challenges. Snowdon explains how campaign groups' rejection of market-based solutions often stems from deeper ideological preferences for reshaping society, rather than simply addressing the problems they claim to want to solve. This episode offers insights into why some of our most pressing problems remain stuck in ideological gridlock despite available solutions. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe