May’s local elections saw a surge in support for the right-wing populist party Reform. What might be driving this swing away from mainstream parties? Do the results reflect what voters are seeing in t...

While wealthier countries have historically contributed the most to climate change, the Global South is now under pressure to take costly action. How will balancing between emissions reductions and ec...

The outlook for Europe appears dangerous. Expanding the single market would change things. But can it be done?

This descriptive and causal evidence demonstrates some of the many research possibilities opened up by our granular measurement of product linkages,…

Mark Zuckerberg has announced changes to moderation on Meta platforms, including an end to independent fact-checking on its platforms, increases in the amount of political content recommended to users...

The FT’s annual poll forecasts better performance than France and Germany

Perm sec says officials will use research 'to help unblock barriers through policy as part of wider plan to drive economic growth'

The recent rise of populist movements in Western democracies has accompanied an erosion of trust in institutions and expertise. This column examines the dynamic between traditional policymaking – characterised by complex compromise – and the rise, persistence, and recurrence of populism, which tends to encourage extreme and simplistic policies without solid evidence. The link between distrust and ‘alt-truth’ engenders a trap whereby trust in the traditional political class never recovers, leading to a recurrence of populists in power. Surprisingly, this cycle sometimes benefits voters by having a disciplining effect on traditional politicians.

Many feared that the Tenant Fees Act 2019 would drive up rental fees, but it has saved renters an average of £400 per tenancy.

The impact on people in the UK is probably similar. Unfortunately, no national data was collected, so we can’t be sure.

John Craven and Margherita Taylor explore Woodoaks Farm in Hertfordshire, where efforts are under way to restore nature’s balance and reconnect people with farming.