[throwaway48540]

What is shady about them? Are they criminals?

[schmidtleonard]

Their agenda is to frame the self-serving interests of a very narrow group as the economic interests of everyone. That's shady.

[cherrycherry98]

Depending on the specifics, that sounds congruent with some of Adam Smith's economic theories so it's not surprising to see such arguments used, especially if some of the authors are from the Adam Smith Institute.

His whole invisible hand metaphor is about society advancing as a whole from agents acting in their self interest.

It's more likely a sincerely held belief than an attempt at misdirection.

[nmadden]

As rjsw says, they refuse to disclose who funds them. See https://www.monbiot.com/2022/10/07/thinktanking-the-country/ for some background.

[PaulDavisThe1st]

If you consider tanking the UK economy to the tune of hundreds of millions if not billions of pounds, then yes, absolutely.

[throwaway48540]

How could they possibly do that?

[rjsw]

They refuse to say who funds them.

[pch00]

Led By Donkeys' exposure of the Truss mini-budget and the Adam Smith Institute involvement is enlightening:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRDLIOME47c

[GordonAShumway]

Hats. The fedoras they wear shades their faces from view, m’lady