Bart van Ark
@bartvanark.bsky.social
Professor of Productivity Studies, Alliance Manchester Business School; Managing Director, The Productivity Institute;
Opportunity for COUNTRY ANALYSTS on PRODUCTIVITY AND DECENT WORK for the 8 countries: COLOMBIA, ETHIOPIA, EGYPT, MALAYSIA, MEXICO, PHILIPPINES, SOUTH AFRICA & VIETNAM.
3 months: mid September - mid December
Deadline for applications is: Friday 5 September
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/opportu...
3 months: mid September - mid December
Deadline for applications is: Friday 5 September
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/opportu...
Opportunity: Country Analysts – productivity & decent work policies - The Productivity Institute
The Productivity Institute is seeking Country Analysts to contribute to a study, “Bridging Policies for Productivity and Decent Work”, which explores how national productivity policies align with dece...
www.productivity.ac.uk
August 28, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Opportunity for COUNTRY ANALYSTS on PRODUCTIVITY AND DECENT WORK for the 8 countries: COLOMBIA, ETHIOPIA, EGYPT, MALAYSIA, MEXICO, PHILIPPINES, SOUTH AFRICA & VIETNAM.
3 months: mid September - mid December
Deadline for applications is: Friday 5 September
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/opportu...
3 months: mid September - mid December
Deadline for applications is: Friday 5 September
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/opportu...
Reposted by Bart van Ark
Great event in London launching “Joining Up Pro-Productivity Policies in the UK” alongside @niesrorg.bsky.social. Insightful panel, packed room, and a big thanks to all contributors! 📄🔗 www.productivity.ac.uk/research/joi... 1/4
July 10, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Great event in London launching “Joining Up Pro-Productivity Policies in the UK” alongside @niesrorg.bsky.social. Insightful panel, packed room, and a big thanks to all contributors! 📄🔗 www.productivity.ac.uk/research/joi... 1/4
Reposted by Bart van Ark
I really like the sound of the Total Place-style pooled budget pilots that Angela Rayner announced today. Little detail provided so far but potentially huge. This is how @instituteforgovernment.org.uk think Total Place pilots should work:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
July 3, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I really like the sound of the Total Place-style pooled budget pilots that Angela Rayner announced today. Little detail provided so far but potentially huge. This is how @instituteforgovernment.org.uk think Total Place pilots should work:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Some good summer reading!
A new issue of the #InternationalProductivityMonitor (Spring 2025) with a Symposium of articles on the UK #productivitypuzzle. www.linkedin.com/pulse/sympos...
Also a great article on #AI impacts on productivity by OECD.
CSLS and @productivity.bsky.social
A new issue of the #InternationalProductivityMonitor (Spring 2025) with a Symposium of articles on the UK #productivitypuzzle. www.linkedin.com/pulse/sympos...
Also a great article on #AI impacts on productivity by OECD.
CSLS and @productivity.bsky.social
Symposium on the UK Productivity Puzzle: Insights from Data, Regions and Sectors
The latest issue of the #InternationalProductivityMonitor features a symposium of four insightful and timely contributions addressing the UK productivity puzzle—assuming, of course, that one still con...
www.linkedin.com
July 2, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Some good summer reading!
A new issue of the #InternationalProductivityMonitor (Spring 2025) with a Symposium of articles on the UK #productivitypuzzle. www.linkedin.com/pulse/sympos...
Also a great article on #AI impacts on productivity by OECD.
CSLS and @productivity.bsky.social
A new issue of the #InternationalProductivityMonitor (Spring 2025) with a Symposium of articles on the UK #productivitypuzzle. www.linkedin.com/pulse/sympos...
Also a great article on #AI impacts on productivity by OECD.
CSLS and @productivity.bsky.social
How do we make sure we move from plan to implementation on the new #IndustrialStrategy and how to turn it into sustained #productivity growth? Some thoughts from @andywestwood.bsky.social and me on the things to look out for. @productivity.bsky.social
📊 Can the UK finally stick to a long-term growth plan?
The new place-based #IndustrialStrategy sets bold goals, but can it be made to last in the long term & survive political cycles?
Read @andywestwood.bsky.social & @bartvanark.bsky.social new analysis: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/industr...
The new place-based #IndustrialStrategy sets bold goals, but can it be made to last in the long term & survive political cycles?
Read @andywestwood.bsky.social & @bartvanark.bsky.social new analysis: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/industr...
Industrial Strategy - taking a punt? - The Productivity Institute
The UK Industrial Strategy set some ambitious targets, but how well can it be implemented?
www.productivity.ac.uk
June 27, 2025 at 3:04 PM
How do we make sure we move from plan to implementation on the new #IndustrialStrategy and how to turn it into sustained #productivity growth? Some thoughts from @andywestwood.bsky.social and me on the things to look out for. @productivity.bsky.social
Reposted by Bart van Ark
📊 ONS released the 2025 sub-regional productivity estimates yesterday. What does it mean for the UK?
Bart van Ark breaks down the key insights & what they signal for regional growth.
🔗 Read the blog: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/uk-regi...
#Productivity #Data #UKRegions
Bart van Ark breaks down the key insights & what they signal for regional growth.
🔗 Read the blog: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/uk-regi...
#Productivity #Data #UKRegions
UK Regional Productivity: Insights from the 2025 ONS Sub-Regional Estimates - The Productivity Institute
A blog by Bart van Ark examining the 2025 release of the UK sub-regional productivity estimates by the Office for National Statistics.
www.productivity.ac.uk
June 20, 2025 at 11:17 AM
📊 ONS released the 2025 sub-regional productivity estimates yesterday. What does it mean for the UK?
Bart van Ark breaks down the key insights & what they signal for regional growth.
🔗 Read the blog: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/uk-regi...
#Productivity #Data #UKRegions
Bart van Ark breaks down the key insights & what they signal for regional growth.
🔗 Read the blog: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/uk-regi...
#Productivity #Data #UKRegions
As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, a clearer view of long-term regional productivity trends is beginning to take shape. A short analysis of the latest sub-regional productivity estimates for the UK by the ONS up to 2023 www.linkedin.com/pulse/uk-reg... @productivity.bsky.social
UK Regional Productivity: Insights from the 2025 ONS Sub-Regional Estimates
by Bart van Ark The Productivity Institute, 19 June 2025 The 2025 release of the UK sub-regional productivity estimates by the Office for National Statistics, covering data up to 2023, is a timely and...
www.linkedin.com
June 19, 2025 at 12:47 PM
As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, a clearer view of long-term regional productivity trends is beginning to take shape. A short analysis of the latest sub-regional productivity estimates for the UK by the ONS up to 2023 www.linkedin.com/pulse/uk-reg... @productivity.bsky.social
Reposted by Bart van Ark
As the Financial Times reports today, quoting Tera and @bartvanark.bsky.social, bridging this gap is not just about spending more - but investing smarter, with a long-term vision. www.ft.com/content/583a...
The UK doesn’t have a productivity puzzle
The obstacles to higher growth in Britain are well known
www.ft.com
June 2, 2025 at 12:38 PM
As the Financial Times reports today, quoting Tera and @bartvanark.bsky.social, bridging this gap is not just about spending more - but investing smarter, with a long-term vision. www.ft.com/content/583a...
As we have argued at @productivity.bsky.social for long time, "joining up" and "scaling up" (regional, national and international) are the two key policy levers for pro-productivity policies. UK isn't great at either.
Global turmoil makes Britain’s productivity predicament even worse—In this dire domestic and external predicament, the country has to take the risk of active policy. One aspect of this, in my view, must be… www.ft.com/content/7c0c... Martin Wolf @financial-times.bsky.social
Global turmoil makes Britain’s productivity predicament even worse
The situation is dire and only active policymaking is going to make a difference
www.ft.com
April 15, 2025 at 8:57 AM
As we have argued at @productivity.bsky.social for long time, "joining up" and "scaling up" (regional, national and international) are the two key policy levers for pro-productivity policies. UK isn't great at either.
Reposted by Bart van Ark
How do you make productivity relevant for your entire business? @bartvanark.bsky.social explains why business leaders need to create a compelling story about the importance of productivity across all business functions. www.productivity.ac.uk/news/making-... #productivity #leadership #CHRO #CIO #CFO
Making Productivity Strategic - The Productivity Institute
Bart van Ark explains why business leaders need to create a compelling story about why productivity is important.
www.productivity.ac.uk
March 18, 2025 at 1:53 PM
How do you make productivity relevant for your entire business? @bartvanark.bsky.social explains why business leaders need to create a compelling story about the importance of productivity across all business functions. www.productivity.ac.uk/news/making-... #productivity #leadership #CHRO #CIO #CFO
One of the final regional events of #NationalProductivityWeek, in Cambridge featuring @ojgarling.bsky.social speaking about the #productivity challenges for #EastAnglia. All about need for connectivity and coordinate to leverage the opportunities . @productivity.bsky.social
January 31, 2025 at 3:25 PM
One of the final regional events of #NationalProductivityWeek, in Cambridge featuring @ojgarling.bsky.social speaking about the #productivity challenges for #EastAnglia. All about need for connectivity and coordinate to leverage the opportunities . @productivity.bsky.social
And happy to pre-announce that The Productivity Institute @productivity.bsky.social will launch a 9th Productivity Forum for the Southwest with @bristoluni.bsky.social @businesswest.bsky.social Futures West and CA of West of England.
The Productivity Institute's Policy Director @andywestwood.bsky.social is discussing regional productivity today at the Festival of Flourishing Regions at @wshed.bsky.social during #NationalProductivityWeek #FoFR25
January 30, 2025 at 1:31 PM
And happy to pre-announce that The Productivity Institute @productivity.bsky.social will launch a 9th Productivity Forum for the Southwest with @bristoluni.bsky.social @businesswest.bsky.social Futures West and CA of West of England.
Just as I’m heading to our event in #Wales as part of #NationalProductivityWeek , glad to see this podcast hitting the wire. Also good listening for those visiting our events in #Scotland and #NorthernIreland. But even if you don’t, definitely worth a listen. @productivity.bsky.social
🎧 NEW PODCAST! This #NationalProductivityWeek podcast looks at productivity in the devolved nations. Featuring @cu-cardiffbusiness.bsky.social's Melanie Jones, @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social's @profjohnturner.bsky.social & @uofgasbs.bsky.social's @graemeroy.bsky.social: podfollow.com/1567204500/e...
Productivity Puzzles: A Productivity Agenda for the Devolved Nations
In this episode of Productivity Puzzles, we examine the productivity performance of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. How do the three devolved nations perform on productivity? What are the dif...
podfollow.com
January 30, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Just as I’m heading to our event in #Wales as part of #NationalProductivityWeek , glad to see this podcast hitting the wire. Also good listening for those visiting our events in #Scotland and #NorthernIreland. But even if you don’t, definitely worth a listen. @productivity.bsky.social
Off for our second day of #NationalProductivityWeek with an event with #CIOs on #StrategicProductivity and digital in the firm at the #Shard in London. Will there be some discussion about #DeepSeek? @productivity.bsky.social @ninajorden.bsky.social
January 28, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Off for our second day of #NationalProductivityWeek with an event with #CIOs on #StrategicProductivity and digital in the firm at the #Shard in London. Will there be some discussion about #DeepSeek? @productivity.bsky.social @ninajorden.bsky.social
Reposted by Bart van Ark
There is an urgent need for government at all levels to adopt a place-based perspective on productivity growth. Read @bartvanark.bsky.social and @andywestwood.bsky.social's blog on the #RegionalProductivityAgenda, released as part of #NationalProductivityWeek www.productivity.ac.uk/news/the-pro...
The Productivity Agenda Needs to be Joined Up and Scaled Up Across Regions - The Productivity Institute
Professors Bart van Ark and Andy Westwood write about the need for government at all levels to adopt a place-based perspective on productivity growth.
www.productivity.ac.uk
January 27, 2025 at 8:20 AM
There is an urgent need for government at all levels to adopt a place-based perspective on productivity growth. Read @bartvanark.bsky.social and @andywestwood.bsky.social's blog on the #RegionalProductivityAgenda, released as part of #NationalProductivityWeek www.productivity.ac.uk/news/the-pro...
Kicking off #NationalProductivityWeek by partnering with @iofw.org on their closing event on the #PissaridesReview into the Future of Work and Wellbeing. With @productivity.bsky.social participation in #Shard London and AMBS in Manchester.
January 27, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Kicking off #NationalProductivityWeek by partnering with @iofw.org on their closing event on the #PissaridesReview into the Future of Work and Wellbeing. With @productivity.bsky.social participation in #Shard London and AMBS in Manchester.
First of three #ProductivityPuzzles podcasts around #NationalProductivityWeek on one of the key topics #StrategicProductivity. With authors of three research pieces on the CFO, the CHRO and the CIO in driving productivity. @ninajorden.bsky.social, Irena Teneva and Marion Devine.
See reports below.
See reports below.
🎧 New podcast! Listen to @ninajorden.bsky.social, Irena Teneva, Marion Devine and @bartvanark.bsky.social talking about how different leaders within a firm think about productivity, based on their new #strategicproductivity research. Listen to the full episode: podfollow.com/1567204500/e...
January 25, 2025 at 11:12 AM
First of three #ProductivityPuzzles podcasts around #NationalProductivityWeek on one of the key topics #StrategicProductivity. With authors of three research pieces on the CFO, the CHRO and the CIO in driving productivity. @ninajorden.bsky.social, Irena Teneva and Marion Devine.
See reports below.
See reports below.
Great conversation in this productivity podcast with @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social and @richardaljones.bsky.social with lots of good and original thoughts on the agendas for #productivity, #growth and #industrialstrategy. Enjoy if you want a break from holiday festivities. @productivity.bsky.social
🎙️ NEW PODCAST EPISODE! To end 2024, @bartvanark.bsky.social, @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social & @richardaljones.bsky.social review the UK's productivity & growth agenda & the intricacies of industrial strategy. Is the UK on the right track? podfollow.com/1567204500/e... @bennettinstitute.bsky.social
December 19, 2024 at 12:06 PM
Great conversation in this productivity podcast with @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social and @richardaljones.bsky.social with lots of good and original thoughts on the agendas for #productivity, #growth and #industrialstrategy. Enjoy if you want a break from holiday festivities. @productivity.bsky.social
Reposted by Bart van Ark
New analysis from me for The Productivity Institute of the devolution proposals authorities submitted to the Government reveals that:
1. There is an ‘anti-mayoral belt’ which stretches from the South West to the East of England – as evidenced in red.
1. There is an ‘anti-mayoral belt’ which stretches from the South West to the East of England – as evidenced in red.
November 28, 2024 at 2:59 PM
New analysis from me for The Productivity Institute of the devolution proposals authorities submitted to the Government reveals that:
1. There is an ‘anti-mayoral belt’ which stretches from the South West to the East of England – as evidenced in red.
1. There is an ‘anti-mayoral belt’ which stretches from the South West to the East of England – as evidenced in red.
Interesting discussion on background of the October 24 budget with @productivity.bsky.social Senior Policy Fellow @timleunig.bsky.social.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... Me, Nick Robinson and Stephanie Flanders on the economics and politics of the budget
- The Today Podcast - Analysis: A Budget for the history books - BBC Sounds
- The Today Podcast - Analysis: A Budget for the history books - BBC Sounds
October 31, 2024 at 8:38 PM
Interesting discussion on background of the October 24 budget with @productivity.bsky.social Senior Policy Fellow @timleunig.bsky.social.
Reposted by Bart van Ark
What does the budget mean for productivity? Some of the critical stepping stones are being laid but it will all depend on execution, says @bartvanark.bsky.social in his policy commentary. www.productivity.ac.uk/news/this-is...
#budget2024 #productivity
#budget2024 #productivity
This is not the “productivity” budget, but how to make it one? - The Productivity Institute
Some of the critical stepping stones are being laid but it will all depend on execution.
www.productivity.ac.uk
October 31, 2024 at 4:05 PM
What does the budget mean for productivity? Some of the critical stepping stones are being laid but it will all depend on execution, says @bartvanark.bsky.social in his policy commentary. www.productivity.ac.uk/news/this-is...
#budget2024 #productivity
#budget2024 #productivity
The huge contributions of Alan Heston, who sadly passed away, as one of the original architects of the Penn World Table (PWT) is well memorised in an eulogy by our friends at @unigroningen.bsky.social where PWT is currently hosted. @robertinklaar.bsky.social. www.rug.nl/ggdc/blog/al...
Alan Heston (1934-2024)
www.rug.nl
October 26, 2024 at 11:36 AM
The huge contributions of Alan Heston, who sadly passed away, as one of the original architects of the Penn World Table (PWT) is well memorised in an eulogy by our friends at @unigroningen.bsky.social where PWT is currently hosted. @robertinklaar.bsky.social. www.rug.nl/ggdc/blog/al...
Reposted by Bart van Ark
Jagjit Chadha is standing down from NIESR after eight years - he's done a great job in bringing economic light to tricky challenges during this time
www.niesr.ac.uk/news/jagjit-...
www.niesr.ac.uk/news/jagjit-...
Jagjit Chadha to Stand Down as Director - NIESR
Professor Jagjit S. Chadha is to stand down as Director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) in December 2024.
www.niesr.ac.uk
October 11, 2024 at 10:59 AM
Jagjit Chadha is standing down from NIESR after eight years - he's done a great job in bringing economic light to tricky challenges during this time
www.niesr.ac.uk/news/jagjit-...
www.niesr.ac.uk/news/jagjit-...
Reposted by Bart van Ark
Skills England - what I think it should do (a blog for new Policy Unit @productivity.bsky.social)
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/skillse...
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/skillse...
Skills England. What is it and what should it do? - The Productivity Institute
Skills England needs to be at the centre of efforts to build a system with long term clarity and stability.
www.productivity.ac.uk
October 6, 2024 at 8:10 AM
Skills England - what I think it should do (a blog for new Policy Unit @productivity.bsky.social)
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/skillse...
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/skillse...
Another great post of @productivity.bsky.social new Policy Unit by on improving access to capital and finance to narrow regional inequalities in #productivity by Philip McCann and colleagues.
Paper here www.productivity.ac.uk/research/acc...
Access to capital and finance: strategic context, challenges and policy recommendations - The Productivity Institute
Access to capital and finance: strategic context, challenges and policy recommendations on how to narrow the UK's regional inequalities.
www.productivity.ac.uk
October 3, 2024 at 9:19 PM
Another great post of @productivity.bsky.social new Policy Unit by on improving access to capital and finance to narrow regional inequalities in #productivity by Philip McCann and colleagues.