Productivity powers economic growth and shapes living standards, yet the UK continues to falter on both counts. The 2025 Budget has to pull Britain out of its productivity slump.

For two decades, the UK economy has seen weak growth, driven by low business investment, inadequate market dynamism and persistent policy instability. These failures shape the daily reality of…

The 16-year-olds who took their GCSEs this summer started secondary school in the middle of the pandemic. The results of these high-stakes exams will highlight the uneven toll that Covid-19 lockdowns took on learning, as well as the key role that good grades play in shaping future opportunities.

The arrival of children is one of the primary reasons for gender inequalities in the labour market. Anna Raute shares her findings on how firms can help alleviate gender gaps through family-friendly policies. Motherhood causes women to take career interruptions for caregiving, negatively impacting their labour market outcomes—often known as the “child penalty”. While government The arrival of children is one of the primary reasons for gender inequalities in the labour market. Anna Raute shares her findings on how firms can help alleviate gender gaps through family-friendly policies. Motherhood causes women to take career interruptions for caregiving, negatively impacting their labour market outcomes—often known as the “child penalty”. While government

Research into the economic consequences of leaving the EU. The impact of Brexit on trade, businesses, working life and living standards.

As COP29 brings climate action into focus, it’s clear that policy must go beyond carbon trading and finance. To make net zero a reality, the workforce must be equipped with the right skills. …

As COP29 brings climate action into focus, it’s clear that policy must go beyond carbon trading and finance. To make net zero a reality, the workforce must be equipped with the right skills. …

Poor mental health has significant consequences for people’s wellbeing, but also has an enormous economic cost – approximately 5 per cent of GDP in 2019. Aadya Bahl argues for the greater inv…

Poor mental health has significant consequences for people’s wellbeing, but also has an enormous economic cost – approximately 5 per cent of GDP in 2019. Aadya Bahl argues for the greater inv…

This paper considers the impact of a major public sector relocation: the British Broadcasting Corporation's partial move from London to Salford, Greater Manchester starting in 2011. We identify effects of the move using synthetic control methods applied to plant-level data at Local Authority and Travel to Work Area level. Each BBC job creates on average 0.33 additional jobs in the creative industries, rising to 0.55 additional jobs by 2017, and the relocation had an impact on sectoral and firm composition. We find no significant effect on total employment but a small positive effect on Local Authority average wages.

This public consultation will inform the development of the new industrial strategy: the government's proposed plan to ease the investor journey and create long-term, inclusive, secure and sustainable growth. The final industrial strategy will be published in spring 2025, alongside the multi-year Spending Review.

This paper considers the impact of a major public sector relocation: the British Broadcasting Corporation's partial move from London to Salford, Great...

The UK’s workforce is facing a growing health crisis, with rising levels of long-term sickness affecting productivity and economic stability. Aadya Bahl explores the relationship between heal…