Economy 2030· Cities and regions Ending stagnation The role of cities like Nottingham in boosting economic prosperity across Britain Thursday 29 February 2024 This event was in Nottingham. A toxic combination of 15 years of low growth, and four decades of high inequality, has left Britain poorer and falling behind its peers. Productivity growth is weak and public investment is low, while wages today are no higher than they were before the financial crisis. Britain needs a new … Continued READ MORE
Working in the think tank sector Webinar for those interested in working in the sector Wednesday 28 February 2024 Think tanks are research organisations that develop ideas and suggestions for action on a whole range of subjects affecting society. Using research, analysis and commentary, we aim to inform and influence politicians, policy makers and the public. Given the economic, social and political issues facing the UK, ensuring the world of research and policy-making is … Continued READ MORE
Labour market· Skills· Social mobility· Wellbeing and mental health Healthy starts How mental ill-health shapes the education and economic prospects of young people Monday 26 February 2024 The rising prevalence of mental health problems among young people over recent decades is becoming increasingly concerning. While evidently distressing for the young people and their families, periods of poor mental health can also have significant detrimental impacts on their education and job prospects. Increasing support provided in schools and universities has gone some way … Continued READ MORE
Budgets & fiscal events· Public spending· Economy and public finances· Political parties and elections Tax cuts today, spending cuts tomorrow? How the Budget might shape the General Election and beyond Wednesday 21 February 2024 An election is coming, and therefore so are tax cuts in the Budget on 6th March. But the size of those tax cuts are dependent on the amount of fiscal room for manoeuvre the Chancellor has. And their shape will reflect where his political and economic priorities lie. Plus tax cuts come in a context … Continued READ MORE
Living standards· Prices & consumption· Brexit & trade Trading standards How exposure to global trade shapes our living standards Monday 19 February 2024 Britain is an open economy, and has become more open over recent decades – despite the impact of Brexit and ‘slowbalisation’. But the quantity and type of goods and services we trade isn’t the only thing that has shifted. So has what we consume and where we work. All of these shifts affect our exposure … Continued READ MORE
Living standards· Pensions & savings Saving for today. And tomorrow. How to boost households financial resilience now, and living standards in retirement Monday 12 February 2024 British households aren’t saving enough. Pensions auto-enrolment has got far more of us saving for retirement, but too many of us are not on track for a comfortable old age. More immediately, too few of us have access to rainy-day pots to help us through an unexpected shock. Traditional approaches to encourage people to build … Continued READ MORE
Demographics· Intergenerational Centre· Political parties and elections New age or age-old appeal How different generations view the parties and issues that will determine the General Election Wednesday 7 February 2024 In recent decades age has replaced class as one of the key determinants of a voter’s values and voting behaviour. But these trends never sit still, especially as issues – from Europe to the environment, and the economy – rise and fall in terms of their electoral salience. We know that the next election will … Continued READ MORE
Living standards· Economy and public finances· Political parties and elections Turning a corner? The political and economic outlook for a critical election year Monday 8 January 2024 The worst of the cost of living crisis appears to be behind us, with inflation more than halving since its peak. But 2024 may not be plain sailing economically, and it certainly won’t be politically with an election in store. While wages are at last growing faster than prices, economic growth has flatlined while taxes, … Continued READ MORE
Incomes· Living standards· Prices & consumption Rising rents and rebounding wages Where is Britain’s cost-of-living crisis heading? Thursday 14 December 2023 Inflation is down, but Britain’s cost-of-living crisis is still very much with us. The legacy of previous price rises for energy and food are now combining with a new pressure: housing. Private rents are rising at their fastest rate in over a decade, while the impact of higher interest rates is still feeding through into … Continued READ MORE
Economy 2030· Net zero· Living standards· Demographics· Firms· Productivity & industrial strategy· Brexit & trade· Cities and regions· Economic growth· Tax· Macroeconomic policy Ending Stagnation A New Economic Strategy for Britain Monday 4 December 2023 The final report of The Economy 2030 Inquiry The UK has great strengths, but is a decade and a half into a period of stagnation. The combination of slow growth and high inequality is proving toxic for low- and middle-income Britain. The result is a country falling behind its peers, where taxes, rather than wages, … Continued READ MORE
Budgets & fiscal events· Public spending· Economy and public finances Autumn (Statement) Watch Thursday 23 November 2023 The economy is set to be a defining feature of the run in to next General Election. Inflation is falling, but so too is consumer confidence. Tax revenues are going up, but NHS waiting lists aren’t coming down. In the Autumn Statement the Chancellor will be navigating these short-term challenges, but also addressing longer-term questions … Continued READ MORE
Ventures· Labour market· Pay· Skills WorkerTech Conference Exploring the role of technology in creating good work in the UK Tuesday 21 November 2023 Technology is changing the world of work — from AI to app-based firms and the pandemic-induced surge in remote working. The benefits of these new technologies can often pass low-earners by, or ratchet up insecurity in their working lives. But new technologies also have the potential to improve workers’ pay, skills and career paths — … Continued READ MORE
Economy 2030· Productivity & industrial strategy· Economic growth Inventing a better Britain How does R&D fit into a new UK economic strategy? Wednesday 15 November 2023 Low productivity is the foundational cause of Britain’s recent economic malaise, and raising it is a top priority for policy makers. Public and private investment in research and development is a key route to boosting productivity and future economic growth. But businesses often complain that policy makers are failing to create an environment that encourages … Continued READ MORE
Living standards· Intergenerational Centre Perma-crisis people The divergent economic prospects between generations Monday 13 November 2023 Advanced economies across the globe have experienced a series of unprecedented economic shocks since the start of the century. But they have not affected all generations equally. The disproportionate impact on the financial wellbeing of younger people has sparked concerns about generational fairness on both sides of the Atlantic. Fifteen years on from the global … Continued READ MORE
Economy 2030· Cities and regions In place of centralisation Devolution for London, Manchester and Birmingham Wednesday 8 November 2023 Devolution is essential to both tackle economic inequality across England and drive national economic growth. Significant change has already occurred, with metro mayors and combined authorities taking control over significant areas from transport to housing in areas covering large swathes of the country. But we have not seen fiscal devolution, as responsibility for how money is spent … Continued READ MORE
Budgets & fiscal events· Economy and public finances Preparing the pitch What to expect in the upcoming Autumn Statement Monday 6 November 2023 The Chancellor has two just two more fiscal events in which to prepare the economic pitch for the upcoming General Election. The backdrop is a challenging and uncertain economic environment, alongside huge pressure on both public services and finances. With the Prime Minister making a virtue of the need to take tough decisions, the Chancellor … Continued READ MORE
Economy 2030· Productivity & industrial strategy· Public spending Creaking at the seams Can we bring Britain’s trains, drains and mains into the 21st Century? Wednesday 1 November 2023 Britain faces a simply huge infrastructure challenge. As well as decarbonising our homes, we need to modernise our water, energy and transport networks, replacing basic infrastructure that often dates back to the Victorian era. Achieving this is likely to require major investment, regulatory reform and new institutions to drive forward change, as well as a … Continued READ MORE
Wealth & assets· Scotland The wealth of a nation What the changing size and shape of household wealth means for Scotland Monday 30 October 2023 This event was in Edinburgh. Record low interest rates over the past 30 years led to a wealth boom, with Scottish households seeing wealth rise by £700 billion since the financial crisis alone. But surging interest rates in 2022 have brought this era to an abrupt end, causing pension valuations to crater, mortgage costs to … Continued READ MORE
Economy 2030· Skills People-powered growth Equipping young people with the skills Britain needs to prosper Tuesday 24 October 2023 Britain urgently needs to boost its economic growth. But while there are many routes to doing so, most ultimately come down to people boosting national prosperity – and to do this they need the right skills for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. But Britain’s record on skills is chequered – its often world … Continued READ MORE
Economy 2030· Monetary policy· Fiscal policy· Macroeconomic policy Riding the economic rollercoaster Is Britain’s macroeconomic policy framework fit for purpose? Thursday 19 October 2023 Britain’s macroeconomic policy that the Treasury and Bank of England have got used to is crisis management – from a financial crash to a global pandemic and a huge inflation spike. Both have adopted new approaches to supporting the economy, going far beyond textbook cuts to interest rates. Today the legacy is higher levels of … Continued READ MORE
Monetary policy· Macroeconomic policy Worlds apart Why is UK inflation so much higher than in the US, and what does that tell us about the economic outlook? Thursday 5 October 2023 Resolution Foundation event with The Brookings Institution The last few years have not been easy times for any advanced economies. The UK, US, and Eurozone have all buffeted by major economic shocks, most recently by the most significant inflation surge in four decades. But while there are many common themes – huge inflation pressures, rising … Continued READ MORE
Political parties and elections Party Conferences 2023 Resolution Foundation fringe events at Conservative and Labour Party Conferences Sunday 1 October 2023 CONSERVATIVE: Getting Britain Working Sunday 1st October, 3:30-4:30pm Britain is emerging from two major international economic shocks, that have rocked the labour market. Getting employment back up to record levels and inactivity down to historic lows will play a key role in boosting economic growth in the decade ahead. In this event, we’ll discuss how … Continued READ MORE
Economy 2030· Labour market Creating a Good Jobs economy Lecture by Professor Dani Rodrik Wednesday 27 September 2023 Advanced economies across the world have been buffeted by acute shocks crises like the Covid-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine, at the same time as they are grappling with longer-term challenges like deindustrialisation, the rise of AI and globalisation. Labour markets across a range of countries have experienced persistent wage stagnation, the rise of insecure … Continued READ MORE
Economy 2030· Firms· Productivity & industrial strategy More change please Why Britain needs a more dynamic economy Monday 25 September 2023 Change is accelerating, or so we are told. But while the world is changing, it’s far less clear that Britain’s economy is. In fact we’re seeing less industrial change, as some sectors grow and others shrink, than has been the case for decades. Fewer workers are moving jobs. This matters because, while many of us … Continued READ MORE
Economy 2030· Incomes· Productivity & industrial strategy· Labour market Risk reduction Can earnings insurance underpin a more dynamic jobs market and a more productive economy? Thursday 21 September 2023 Losing your job in Britain can be a very expensive business. Low and flat rate benefits leave many workers facing huge income falls if they face a period out of work. This gives them a strong incentive to take a new job quickly – but not necessarily the best fit for their talents. And it … Continued READ MORE
