Michael Kenny
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michaelkenny.bsky.social
Michael Kenny
@michaelkenny.bsky.social
Professor of Public Policy, Inaugural Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge, Author
Reposted by Michael Kenny
Really excited to be recruiting to this role at @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk.

We're looking for someone to help broaden our connections between the school and the worlds of academia and policymaking.

Sound interesting? Details below.

www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/about-us/vac...
Research Assistant/Associate - Bennett School of Public Policy
Department/Location: Department of Public Policy (Bennett School of Public Policy)Salary: £33,002-£46,049Reference: JB47263Category: ResearchDate published: 12 September 2025Closing date: 10 October 2...
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk
September 15, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
“I worry that sometimes the world of statistics can become a proxy battleground. Statistical debates about what to measure can be used as a way to transpose a philosophical or political argument about what we actually value in more cloaked and technocratic way.”

Yup

pbe.co.uk/insights/bey...
September 1, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
Really support this. We’ve been banging on about the importance of this community social infrastructure for a while including this recent report with @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk on how it can be measured www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/value-o...
July 28, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
📸 A productive & inspiring team away day!

Team Bennett is hard at work planning for the exciting opening of @bennettschool.bsky.social this October 2025 - under the leadership of @michaelkenny.bsky.social & @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social

#Research #Teaching #Engagement #Impact
July 3, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
How can democracies think long-term?

The Heywood Fellowship team says the UK is being outpaced – and is building a plan for action:
🧬 Diagnosis
🎯 Objectives
🧭 Big bets
🔀 Trade-offs

Learn more about their call for a long-term national strategy + Spain’s example ➡️
Heywood Fellowship
The Heywood Fellowship is a visiting fellowship created in memory of Jeremy Heywood, Cabinet Secretary from 2012 to 2018. The purpose is to give a UK Civil Service Permanent Secretary the opportunity…
www.bsg.ox.ac.uk
June 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
New piece from me and @ojgarling.bsky.social on what kinds of thinking and policy on infrastructure now needed to achieve more equitable growth acss.org.uk/the-role-of-... @acadsocsciences.bsky.social
The role of infrastructure in good growth – Academy of Social Sciences
acss.org.uk
June 10, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
Starmer is meeting with the devolved heads of government and English regional mayors today for the second instalment of the Council of Nations & Regions

Good time to read our report with @policywise.bsky.social to find out what it is & why it matters!

www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/publications...
A more collaborative way of governing? Why the UK's Council of the Nations and Regions matters - Bennett Institute for Public Policy
The Council of the Nations and Regions represents an opportunity to foster better relations between the key players in the territorial government of the UK – the UK’s central government, its devolved ...
www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk
May 23, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
Can tomorrow's Council of Nations & Regions meeting navigate the big and small 'P' politics of national and local #devolution?
Watch our webinar with @michaelkenny.bsky.social @alwalker.bsky.social & Dewi Knight www.youtube.com/watch?v=tru3...
Read our report www.policywise.org.uk/about/inter-...
Watch the Webinar: "A More Collaborative Form of Governance?
YouTube video by PolicyWISE
www.youtube.com
May 22, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Shrewd overview of the politics surrounding the second Council of Nations and Regions summit happening this Friday - with reference to our brand-new report on this under-the-radar constitutional innovation (with @policywise.bsky.social) www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The UK risks falling apart. Keir Starmer can mend it now – but he doesn’t have much time | Martin Kettle
The PM has little choice. Unless he brings the fractured nations together, none can move forward, and neither can he, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle
www.theguardian.com
May 22, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
Drawing on in-depth research, @alwalker.bsky.social & @michaelkenny.bsky.social set out why the Council of the Nations and Regions matters for devolution in times of political fragmentation.

In a new blog, they discuss what’s needed to make it work.

www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/why-the...
May 21, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
Our new report is out! @michaelkenny.bsky.social, Dewi Knight and I look at the Council of the Nations and Regions.

This initiative has so far flown pretty under the radar, but we argue it has the scope to be significant.

Some key points below.

www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/publications...
May 13, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
Tomorrow! Join Dewi Knight, @alwalker.bsky.social and @michaelkenny.bsky.social to hear why the Council of Nations and Regions matters and the importance of working with all UK leaders no matter the politics....
Sign up www.policywise.org.uk/node/671
#intergovernmentalrelations #ukpolitics #webinar
May 12, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
New @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk @britishacademy.bsky.social report today on the need for policymakers to not overlook the importance of investing in social and cultural infrastructure, and how we might go about measuring it
www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/value-o...
Value of social and cultural infrastructure ‘risks being neglected in decision-making' without new measurement framework - Bennett Institute for Public Policy
New framework for measuring the value of social and cultural infrastructure will more effectively highlight its crucial role in improving wellbeing and economic growth.
www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk
April 30, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
Challenging lists of cultural assets, our hidden gem of the week calls for measuring goods like networks that foster relationships.

By Dimitrios Panayotopoulos-Tsiros, @ojgarling.bsky.social, @annaalexandrova.bsky.social, @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social at @britishacademy.bsky.social

buff.ly/DtQ009T
May 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
🚨 New report from the Bennett Institute warns that social & cultural spaces like libraries, galleries & community hubs risk being overlooked without better ways to measure their impact. They’re vital for economic growth & tackling inequality.

www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/value-o...
April 30, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
I participated in the @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk Crossing Channels podcast series with a programme on the food system, diets and health. Interesting conversation with Jonathan Stieglizt, evolutionary anthropologist. Listen or read here: www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/posts/types/...
Podcast Archives - Bennett Institute for Public Policy
www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk
April 7, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Great new opportunity, teaching on and researching public policy here, at Assistant Prof level here in Cambridge - please spread the word! @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk
We're looking for an Assistant Professor to join the new Bennett School of Public Policy in September 2025, to play a leading role in the running & teaching of our M.Phil in Public Policy and PhD programme, & to also conduct original research.

Apply by 27 April 2025:
www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/50808/
March 31, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
We're looking for an Assistant Professor to join the new Bennett School of Public Policy in September 2025, to play a leading role in the running & teaching of our M.Phil in Public Policy and PhD programme, & to also conduct original research.

Apply by 27 April 2025:
www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/50808/
March 31, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
Fantastic panel to discuss spatial inequalities and their consequences. Chaired by @michaelkenny.bsky.social @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk
March 28, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
Really good session on 'forgotten about places' at @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk conference this afternoon. Glad to hear the importance of social infrastructure get a few mentions! @michaelkenny.bsky.social
March 28, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
I’m at the @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk conference and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com has mentioned Blackpool which gives me an excuse to link to her seminal article from 2017 in case some of you are too young to know it
www.ft.com/blackpool
Left behind: can anyone save the towns the UK economy forgot?
Soaring antidepressant usage, falling life expectancy: Blackpool embodies much of what is going wrong on the fringes of Britain
www.ft.com
March 28, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
At @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk for their annual conference today. "We are talking about these issues at a time of crisis," says Michael Kenny #BennettInst
March 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
Delighted to announce that we are going to become an independent Department - the Bennett School of Public Policy - @cambridgeuni.bsky.social from this autumn. Thanks to all those who have supported us on our journey to this point - www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/bennett...
Major new policy school at Cambridge University set to take on AI economy and reviving ‘left behind’ regions - Bennett Institute for Public Policy
The Bennett School of Public Policy opens this October, and is already leading work on two of the most pressing policy problems of our time: implementing AI and revitalising post-industrial areas.
www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk
March 3, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Reposted by Michael Kenny
Join us for our Annual Conference keynote lecture with @profsanderlinden.bsky.social discussing how it is possible to “immunize” people against disinformation so they can recognise & resist unwanted attempts to be manipulated & misled.

Keynote-only tickets: www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/conference
February 28, 2025 at 11:15 AM