Living standards· Social care· Welfare Post-pandemic, post-Beveridge? Assessing the case for redesigning the welfare state Thursday 29 April 2021 Millions of us have been supported by social security during the pandemic, which has provided a living standards lifeline amid a deep economic shutdown. But the inadequacy of the UK’s benefit system has also been exposed. The Chancellor had to invent whole new kinds of income protection overnight and boost the basic level of benefits, … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Intergenerational Centre Covid secure? Older workers during the pandemic Monday 26 April 2021 The age spread of labour market damage from the Covid-induced economic crisis is distinctly U shaped. The youngest workers have been worst affected, accounting for two-thirds of the fall in payrolled employment. But older workers have also been hard hit and the challenges they face from job losses are significant – from longer periods of … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Living standards· Incomes Covid Comparisons How household finances have been hit across the UK, France and Germany Wednesday 21 April 2021 The Covid-19 pandemic has been a truly global crisis but, while every country has been affected, not all have been affected equally. Individual countries have taken different approaches to tackling the virus, and protecting workers and families from its economic impacts. Crucially households entered this crisis with very different levels of financial resilience in different … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19 The 12-month stretch How has Britain coped with a year of Covid-19? Thursday 18 March 2021 On 23rd March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered the country to ‘stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives’ to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. Twelve months on and several lockdowns later, the crisis has triggered the biggest economic slump in three centuries, an unprecedented £340 billion of emergency support and, tragically, the loss … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Monetary policy· Economy and public finances· Macroeconomic policy The economic outlook Speech by the Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey Monday 8 March 2021 The Covid-19 pandemic has sparked a truly global economic crisis, affecting families, firms and institutions throughout the world. The UK has been hard hit – experiencing the biggest economic contraction in over three centuries – but the fast pace of its vaccine roll-out means that the economy is expected to recover rapidly this year. The … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Budgets & fiscal events· Economy and public finances On the recovery road Assessing the Budget and economic outlook Thursday 4 March 2021 Chancellor Sunak’s first year in office has been marked by a huge economic crisis, and unprecedented policy interventions to support workers and firms through the pandemic. With vaccines being swiftly rolled out, the year ahead should see the economy return to growth. But with rising unemployment and firms reluctant to invest, the road to recovery … Continued READ MORE
Monetary policy· Covid-19· Budgets & fiscal events· Economy and public finances Budgeting for Britain’s economic recovery Thursday 25 February 2021 The economic outlook for 2021 is highly uncertain. Having started with a renewed lockdown and likely shrinking economy, a stronger than expected vaccine roll-out offers hope for a recovery in the months ahead. The upcoming Budget on 3 March will be critical in terms of shaping the strength and nature of that recovery from this … Continued READ MORE
Working in the Think Tank Sector A joint event in partnership with other think tanks and organisations Wednesday 24 February 2021 Think tanks are research organisations that develop ideas on a whole range of subjects affecting society. They make suggestions for action, using research, analysis and commentary to inform and influence politicians, policy makers and the public. Given the recent economic, social and political issues facing the UK, encouraging more diversity in the world of research … Continued READ MORE
Monetary policy· Covid-19· Labour market Recovering from long Covid Understanding the pandemic’s labour market legacy Thursday 18 February 2021 The Job Retention Scheme has provided vital support for millions of workers, and kept a lid on job losses. But with the country in a renewed lockdown, the combination of rising unemployment and long lasting furlough means an unprecedented number of people who have done little to no work in nearly a year. Previous recessions … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Housing Resolving rents Tackling Britain’s rent arrears crisis Tuesday 16 February 2021 Britain’s private renters have been one of the groups hit hardest by job losses and furloughing during the coronavirus crisis. A temporary eviction ban has prevented that feeding through into people losing their homes mid-pandemic, but has seen rent arrears mount. This spells trouble for both tenants and landlords in the months ahead. As the … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Firms Building back business With revenues down and debt up are firms ready to power the recovery? Wednesday 10 February 2021 The Covid-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on Britain, but the roll-out of vaccines offers hope. The economy is expected to recover this year – but the strength of that recovery will depend on how our firms, and jobs and housing markets, respond in the months ahead. Decisions made at the upcoming Budget will … Continued READ MORE
Pensions & savings A Living Pension What would it take to secure a better retirement income for workers? Monday 25 January 2021 UK pensions have seen radical reforms in recent years to boost pension saving and tackle poverty in retirement. Government has introduced a flat-rate state pension and got more millions more workers saving through auto enrolment. But these policies alone can’t guarantee an adequate income for many pensioners. Could the creation of a ‘Living Pension’ – … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Living standards· Inequality & poverty A standard recovery? The outlook for living standards, poverty and inequality Monday 18 January 2021 2020 was tough for household living standards, even with unprecedented support to increase benefits and pay wages through the Job Retention Scheme. While the start of 2021 looks grim, a swift vaccine roll-out holds out the promise of an economic recovery to come. But this unprecedented crisis may be followed by an abnormal recovery for … Continued READ MORE
Labour market· Brexit & trade· Migration A new era What do Brexit and Covid mean for migration and the UK labour market? Thursday 17 December 2020 On 1 January 2021, freedom of movement between the EU and the UK will end, and the UK’s new points-based immigration system will begin. This will mean major change for sectors of the economy – from fruit-picking to social care – heavily reliant on lower-paid migrant labour. And even before Britain ‘takes back control’ of … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Incomes· Macroeconomic policy Coronanomics: Challenges from the distributional impact of the crisis Friday 11 December 2020 While the health implications of the COVID-19 crisis have fallen overwhelmingly on older generations, the economic fallout has fallen heavily on the young and those on lower incomes. Given the highly uneven impact of the crisis, policymakers face huge challenges in preventing the crisis from creating new inequalities and exacerbating existing ones. In this webinar, … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Labour market· Economy and public finances Coronanomics: Challenges facing policy and governance Tuesday 8 December 2020 Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic has been the toughest test for many governments in generations. From suppressing the virus and ensuring healthcare systems can cope, to dealing with the fallout in terms of support for businesses and households, governments are facing huge policy battles, and on multiple fronts. This has placed great pressure on our … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Labour market Coronanomics: Challenges from the unequal impact on the labour market Monday 7 December 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost everyone’s working life, but in very different ways – from remote working, to being furloughed and losing work altogether. The speed and scale of rising unemployment in many countries has been unprecedented. And with the crisis far from over, unemployment is likely to get far worse before it gets … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Fiscal policy· Macroeconomic policy Coronanomics: Challenges facing fiscal policy makers Monday 30 November 2020 With a decade of low interest rates, low growth and low inflation leaving central banks in advanced economies unable to perform their traditional role of supporting the economy during a downturn, fiscal policy must step up and play the leading role this time around. This changes radically how we should think about the role of … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Economy and public finances· Macroeconomic policy Coronanomics The economic challenges of COVID-19 Monday 30 November 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has upended economies across the world. The daunting scale, pace and uncertainty of the crisis has presented huge challenges for economics, and for economic policymakers attempting to steer countries through it while limiting the damage to citizens’ lives and livelihoods. And even if a vaccine is found soon, the legacy of the … Continued READ MORE
Monetary policy· Covid-19· Macroeconomic policy Coronanomics: Challenges facing monetary policy makers Monday 30 November 2020 The financial crisis led central banks around the world to push interest rates to historic lows and print money in order to purchase assets on a vast scale. Does this mean that central Banks’ policy toolkit is now empty, or do they need to find new tools and strategies? What role should central Banks play … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Budgets & fiscal events· Economy and public finances Cash for Covid Assessing the Spending Review and economic outlook Thursday 26 November 2020 With economic uncertainty running high, the Chancellor has cancelled his Budget and scaled down his upcoming Spending Review. But he still faces big decisions about how much of this year’s exceptional spending will continue into next year to support the economy and tackle the virus. Add in fresh forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility … Continued READ MORE
Covid-19· Incomes· Living standards Coping with the crunch COVID-19’s impact on household incomes, savings and debt Monday 16 November 2020 The spring lockdown caused the biggest short-term income shock since the mid-1970s, with better off households seeing their savings rise while lower income families took on more debt. But this pandemic has now had eight months to run, with more difficult months ahead as the Government tightens restrictions across the country. Policy makers need a … Continued READ MORE
Fiscal policy· Economic growth Paying for Covid Repairing the public finances without derailing the economy Thursday 12 November 2020 COVID-19 has already been extremely expensive, with borrowing forecast to exceed £400 billion this year and a substantial deficit set to continue well after the crisis has passed. But that borrowing has been crucial in supporting the economy through the deepest recession for 300 years and government spending has a crucial role to play in … Continued READ MORE
Workertech Using technology to improve Britain’s post-covid labour market for low earners Tuesday 10 November 2020 Technology is changing the world of work – from app-based firms to the roll-out of remote workplaces during the Covid-19 pandemic. The benefits of these new technologies can often pass low-earners by, or add to greater insecurity in their working lives. But new technologies also have the potential to improve workers’ pay, skills and career … Continued READ MORE
Wales· Covid-19· Living standards· Cities and regions From locking down to ‘levelling up’ Wales The past, present and future of Welsh living standards Thursday 5 November 2020 Wales is often absent from Westminster-based discussions around ‘levelling up’, despite household incomes in Wales lagging as far behind the UK average as those in the north of England. But the Welsh government’s policy levers are far stronger than those of English regions, and that status and voice within the UK has become more prominent … Continued READ MORE
