Why even bother with long-run economic change & industrial policy if you don't get the chance to see it through?

Biden went all in on economic change, giving other progressives confidence to back things like industrial policy. But after the Democrats loss many are questioning whether it's worth it?

Great to contribute to Sam’s excellent Substack today, setting out some of the arguments from our recent working paper on Bidenomics and what it might mean for the U.K. 👇

Any recommendations on role of wealth effects in driving recent (post-2008) US growth?

Struck that average real consumption is up about a third (left) while real terms wealth is up about 80% since 2009 (right). Or $4trn extra C for $77bn extra wealth (all real)

Great to see coverage of our new working paper in Martin Wolf's FT column today: www.ft.com/content/7c0c...

Full paper available here: www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/mrcb...

1/ Today, we publish a new working paper: what should the UK learn from Bidenomics?

At its core are 15 interviews—including 5 former Council of Economic Advisers members (3 of them Chairs), 4 former NEC Directors & 2 former Cabinet members.

www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/mrcb...

Here is what I've been working on for the last few months: we are launching the Centre for British Progress to make the progressive case for growth.

Our founding essay describes how Britain once drove our collective progress, and how we must rediscover this dynamism.

This is mortifying. It's the kind of calculation you would normally make about a dictatorship.

open.substack.com/pub/christin...

OBR still leading the pack for optimism about real GDP in 2029, even after downward revisions; and RDEL growth path has become *more* front-loaded over the parliament - both should raise eyebrows about whether today's forecast will survive contact with (i) reality and (ii) politics

It's a very sad day. Just notified that @iza.org is closing its doors as of 31 December 2025. At a time when labor is under attack and technological change moves at an ever-faster pace, I can't help but think that this is a short-sighted decision. My heart goes out to those folks who work there.

EVENT: What next for devolution and regional growth?

Join us for the inaugural @faerfield.bsky.social lecture with Dr Nik Johnson, @officialedballs.bsky.social, Nora Senior CBE,
@dtturner.bsky.social & @bobbyduffy.bsky.social

Register your interest in attending ➡️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

▶️ Here's a 1-minute summary of our new paper showing the places being left behind by English devolution.

📄 The Intersection of Productivity and Governance Capacity in Spatial Inequality: The Case of England’s Devolution Periphery

👥 Jack Newman & Charlotte Hoole

🖇️ doi.org/10.1080/2158...

My initial reaction to the English devo white paper: it's constitutional, not than economic or administrative; it's historic, grasping nettles avoided in the 1970s (Redcliffe-Maud) and 1990s; and it sets up mayors are preeminent English gov players, despite warm wards to local authorities.

English devolution white paper has been released; www.gov.uk/government/p...

Exec summary promises "the biggest transfer of power out of Westminster to England’s regions this century"

White smoke on Local Growth Plans, as West Yorkshire become the first to publish their plan (in draft, ahead of the Combined Authority Board next week).

Leans heavily on existing WY Plan, even getting into things like policing and crime

westyorkshire.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s3...

Bright and crisp day at the Royal Society for @centrepropolicy.bsky.social’s Inclusive Growth Conference. Will keep a thread going here of the day

The Employment White Paper is out.

It's got the crispest summary of the gov's approach to more, better jobs I've seen; a welcome focus on devolution (after decades of DWP as a hold-out); and - for Whitehall watchers - a bumper four-way foreword:

www.gov.uk/government/p...

🚨New #IGConf24 speaker announcement!

We are excited to announce that Devolution Minister,
@jimmcmahon.co.uk is joining us as our keynote speaker this Thursday.

🎟️Spaces are limited, get your free ticket and find our full programme here: progressive-policy.net/events/inclu...

Really interesting paper ahead of the anticipated Employment White Paper over the next fortnight. Pairs well with IFS work on UK exceptionalism post-covid on health-related benefits. Together, they imply we may not get as much growth from "welfare to work" plans as hoped

ifs.org.uk/publications...