Ten years on from the collapse of Lehman Brothers, we are all still living in the shadow of the global financial crash. Each week brings new headlines on the political and economic challenges developed countries face, but despite the depth of the economic crisis, new ideas and new approaches have not driven big public policy … Continued

Labour The Big Debate: Inequality in 21st Century Britain Sunday 23rd September 6:00pm-7:30pm ACC Liverpool, Auditorium 1C Speakers: Ed Miliband MP Lisa Nandy MP Clive Lewis MP Marvin Rees – Mayor of Bristol Polly Toynbee – The Guardian Frances O’Grady – Trade Union Congress Torsten Bell (Chair) – Director of the Resolution Foundation The Big … Continued

China, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, has grown in confidence on the world stage, winning influence and control especially across Africa and Asia, and increasingly in Europe. But with the country facing major issues including high levels of debt, a middle-income trap, an aging population and institutional problems, is China’s authoritarian regime on … Continued

In recent decades, social mobility has stalled across advanced economies. The UK picture is more mixed – but recent OECD research found that richer families are more likely to stay rich and that the slow pace of mobility means it would take five generations for a poor family to reach average income. Looking across advanced … Continued

As Hull was crowned the UK City of Culture for 2017, Steve Arnott – a warehouse worker and aspiring rapper – persuaded his employer to support his ‘Beats Bus’, a bus-turned-recording studio that tours schools and encourages children, many of whom live in poverty, to express themselves. Director Sean McAllister was born in Hull, returning … Continued

Boosting social mobility is now a widely shared goal of policy makers around the world. But actually achieving that goal is easier said than done. Parental achievement, rather than individual talent, remains a big determinant of young people’s opportunities in life. And schools, colleges, universities and employers all now recognise the need to do more … Continued

Since the financial crisis the strength and distribution of household income has dominated much of our political discourse, in stark contrast to a lack of discussion pre-crisis. But the experience of the past actually has much to teach us about the choices Britain faces today. So what has been the story of poverty and inequality … Continued

Over the past two decades, educational attainment and employment have risen across Britain, and in particular amongst many ethnic minority groups. But despite this progress, substantial pay gaps between white workers and ethnic minorities persist. With the introduction of the government’s Race Disparity Unit, questions around ethnicity and inequality are rightly rising up the political … Continued

London is often said to be a different country within the UK, and it’s living standards story differs from the rest of the country too. How dependent is post-financial crisis London on the City? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the capital’s labour market? How is housing shaping the living standards challenges Londoners face? … Continued

As Britain prepares to mark the 70th birthday of the NHS, healthcare has become the most pressing worry for British adults. As a result, dealing with its immediate and longer term funding gaps has risen up the political agenda. But while that means there is now a political consensus that the NHS needs greater funding, … Continued

Speech by Pierre-André Imbert, Social Policy Advisor to President Macron President Macron swept to victory in the French elections last year on a ticket of radical reform. In government he has begun to roll-out the promised reforms – and more. Among the most controversial are plans to reform the French labour market, which has long … Continued