Living standards Rising prices of essential goods wipe out gains in living standards 27 December 2011 New analysis shows that the rising cost of essentials had already wiped out most of the gains in living standards made in the early 2000s by families on low and modest incomes, even before the recession began. The new report, for independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation, shows that increases in the price of food, fuel … Continued READ MORE
Living standards· Welfare Children in low to middle income families start school five months behind 13 December 2011 Children in low to middle income families are already behind their most affluent peers when they start school, because of their upbringing – according to a major new study for the independent think tank, the Resolution Foundation. The study of over 15,000 five year olds, carried out by child development experts Jane Waldfogel and Elizabeth … Continued READ MORE
Housing Tenants ripped off by letting agents 8 December 2011 Tenants are being let down by an unregulated lettings market, with significant upfront costs, variable fees and a lack of transparency around charges, according to a new report published today by independent think tank, the Resolution Foundation. In a mystery shopping exercise of letting agents in three cities, the range and type of fees charged … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Working women key to rising living standards 6 December 2011 The rise of working women has been a critical factor in raising the living standards of low to middle income households in the last 40 years, according to new research carried out by the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies for the Resolution Foundation. In the first major study breaking down the factors which drove household … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Autumn statement deepens squeeze on low and middle income families 29 November 2011 Today’s announcement of cuts to tax credits hit low to middle income families hard and is straightforwardly regressive, analysis from the Resolution Foundation shows. Scrapping the planned increases in Child Tax Credit and freezing more elements of the Working Tax Credit takes money from those who can least afford it, with more than three-quarters of … Continued READ MORE
Living standards US experts fly in as living standards in Britain ‘stand at a crossroads’ 21 November 2011 President Obama’s ‘middle-class tsar’ today flies into the UK for a major summit with British economists on the squeezed middle. Jared Bernstein, who ran the White House Taskforce on how to reverse the decline of the American middle-class, will speak at the meeting with British and American economists called by independent think tank the Resolution … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Households battening down the hatches risks prolonging economic woe 31 October 2011 A third of Britons are cutting back their spending, and more are anxious about their job security, according to new polling from independent think tank, Resolution Foundation. The poll is the second in a new quarterly tracker of household finances, carried out by respected polling firm Ipsos MORI. The poll reveals rising anxiety about job security … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Workers miss out on gain from growth across the OECD 28 October 2011 Workers are gaining less of the proceeds from economic growth right across the OECD, according to a report published today from the independent think tank the Resolution Foundation. The report, Painful Separation, examines the relationship between economic growth and wages for workers on middle (median) wages over the last 30 years in 10 major OECD … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Working families spared further childcare cuts 7 October 2011 Resolution Foundation’s calls for a rethink on childcare deliver success as the Government announces childcare support under the new Universal credit will be kept at current levels, compensating low to middle income working parents for 70% of their childcare costs. This is good news for working parents who had previously been threatened with a further … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Women and part-timers losing the earnings race 23 September 2011 What sex you are, whether you work part time and where you live are all critical for your chances of social mobility, according to a major new study published today by the independent think tank the Resolution Foundation. The report, Snakes and Ladders, finds that women, those working part-time and those outside of London are … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Inreasing penalty for not having a degree 7 September 2011 Those without a degree are losing the social mobility battle, accordingly to new analysis to be published soon by the independent think tank the Resolution Foundation. The new research shows that, compared to those with a degree, those without a degree are more likely to move down the earnings scale during their careers and were … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Poor household finances risk choking off recovery 19 August 2011 Britain’s households continue to feel the financial strain and are anxious about their jobs, according to new polling from independent think tank the Resolution Foundation. The research, carried out by respected polling firm Ipsos MORI, finds that: Fewer than half (48%) of people in low-to-middle income households have cash left over at the end of each month Fewer … Continued READ MORE
Housing Making a rented house a home: housing solutions for ‘generation rent’ 8 August 2011 Low-to-middle income households are likely to be shut out of home ownership for a lifetime, according to analysis published today by the independent think tank the Resolution Foundation. High average first-time buyer house prices and more restricted loan-to-value mortgage advances mean that the average low-to-middle income household putting aside 5 per cent of their disposable … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Ordinary workers missing out on gains from growth 25 July 2011 The share of national income going to the bottom half of earners in Britain has fallen dramatically over the last 30 years, according to new analysis by the independent think tank the Resolution Foundation. These ordinary workers have seen their share of GDP fall by a quarter, at the same time as the share going … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Childcare fails to meet needs of growing numbers of parents working out of hours 16 June 2011 Childcare provision has failed to keep up with changing working patterns – with nearly 70% of all working parents now working ‘atypical’ hours. Many are struggling to find suitable childcare provision as a result, according to a new report from the independent think tank the Resolution Foundation. The report shows that at least one partner … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Growth without gain? 27 May 2011 The living standards of people on low to middle incomes were already faltering prior to the recession, and it is no longer safe to assume they will rise when steady economic growth returns, according to new analysis by the independent think tank the Resolution Foundation. The major new report, Growth without gain?, reveals that even … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Childcare support and the hours trap 23 May 2011 The Government’s funding of childcare under Universal Credit could shatter its commitment to make work pay, accordingly to new analysis commissioned by Gingerbread and the Resolution Foundation think tank. The changes, to be implemented from 2013, may leave some parents facing losing over 94p in the pound as they increase their working hours, damaging work … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Childcare tax credit survey 15 March 2011 WORKING PARENTS UNDER THREAT FROM SPENDING CUTS NEW SURVEY SHOWS CUTS TO CHILDCARE TAX CREDITS MAY FORCE PARENTS TO GIVE UP WORK A new survey of over 2,000 working mothers has revealed that over half will be forced to stop work or significantly reduce their working hours, as a result of cuts in the level … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Social mobility rose in 2000s compared to 1990s 1 March 2011 Earnings mobility increased in the 2000s compared to the 1990s, contrary to perceptions, according to new research published today by the independent think tank the Resolution Foundation. The research focuses on the earnings of people in their 30s and early 40s. While the chances of making a significant move up or down the earnings ladder … Continued READ MORE
Living standards ‘Lost decade’ for living standards 28 February 2011 Average pay set to be no higher in 2015 than 2003 New analysis today reveals that Britain risks a lost decade for living standards, with average pay set to be no higher in 2015 than it was in 2003, after taking account of inflation. The figures, released by the independent think tank the Resolution … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Workers on low-to-middle incomes face worsening poverty trap under Universal Credit 17 February 2011 The Universal Credit will continue to trap many low-to-middle earners on incomes below what they need to make ends meet, according to new research commissioned by the independent think tank the Resolution Foundation. Typically, work incentives for families in lower-paid jobs will worsen. Under the new Universal Credit those currently on tax credits will keep … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Working families face £436 cut in in support for childcare costs next year 29 December 2010 Almost half a million families are set to lose an average of £436 a year in support for childcare costs from April next year, according to new figures out today from the independent think tank the Resolution Foundation. In London, where childcare costs are highest, nearly 50,000 families will lose on average £600. Some families … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Squeezed Britain: Report reveals low-to-middle earners face £720 earnings squeeze 25 November 2010 Today a major new report from the Resolution Foundation reveals that 2011 will bring a new squeeze to the living standards of Britain’s 11 million low‐to‐middle earners.i As the first year of major spending cuts overlaps with a fragile jobs market, 2011 will be a difficult year for everyone. But those in the middle will … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Comprehensive Spending Review – analysis 20 October 2010 FROM POVERTY TRAP TO ASPIRATION TRAP The impact of fiscal tightening on squeezed low-to-middle earners The Resolution Foundation, the low-to-middle earner research and policy organisation, today provides its detailed analysis of what the full package of fiscal tightening measures introduced by the coalition government since June means for the 11 million struggling to get … Continued READ MORE
Gavin Kelly appointed new Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation 15 September 2010 Gavin Kelly has been appointed Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, an independent research and policy organisation working to improve outcomes for low earners. Gavin joins the Foundation from Number 10 Downing Street where he worked as Deputy Chief of Staff from 2007 to 2010. Prior to this Gavin was a member of the Council … Continued READ MORE
