Rod Hick
@rodhick.bsky.social
Professor of Social Policy at Cardiff University. Poverty | social security | work | housing. Incalculable damage-doer. www.rodhick.com
Reposted by Rod Hick
Andy Bartlett and I have a book coming out in November called Bigfooters and Scientific Inquiry. Combing an STS analysis with cultural sociology we hope this contributes to the burgeoning field of the sociology of mystery. Below I include a list of abstracts for the main substantive chapters
October 2, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Andy Bartlett and I have a book coming out in November called Bigfooters and Scientific Inquiry. Combing an STS analysis with cultural sociology we hope this contributes to the burgeoning field of the sociology of mystery. Below I include a list of abstracts for the main substantive chapters
Reposted by Rod Hick
hadn’t realized how unsettling a drawing of small breasts could be
September 8, 2025 at 8:03 PM
hadn’t realized how unsettling a drawing of small breasts could be
Can't be at ESPAnet this year, but following it at a remove on here. Delivered my own presentation this morning which seemed to go down pretty well.
Look forward to reconnecting next year, hopefully somewhere interesting. Bucharest, anyone?
Look forward to reconnecting next year, hopefully somewhere interesting. Bucharest, anyone?
August 28, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Can't be at ESPAnet this year, but following it at a remove on here. Delivered my own presentation this morning which seemed to go down pretty well.
Look forward to reconnecting next year, hopefully somewhere interesting. Bucharest, anyone?
Look forward to reconnecting next year, hopefully somewhere interesting. Bucharest, anyone?
My goodness. The chancellor of the exchequer is longer odds to be next PM than...Andrew Tate?
August 26, 2025 at 5:36 PM
My goodness. The chancellor of the exchequer is longer odds to be next PM than...Andrew Tate?
So the other place permits and amps all manner of intolerant and repellent stuff, but at least there my timeline is boiling with anger at Israel's genocide in Gaza. Here I see more attention devoted to Gavin Newsom's latest post, instrumental variables, or G**dwin's latest observations about London.
August 18, 2025 at 10:16 AM
So the other place permits and amps all manner of intolerant and repellent stuff, but at least there my timeline is boiling with anger at Israel's genocide in Gaza. Here I see more attention devoted to Gavin Newsom's latest post, instrumental variables, or G**dwin's latest observations about London.
Eh, what? Bertie Ahern third favourite to become Ireland's next president?
August 14, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Eh, what? Bertie Ahern third favourite to become Ireland's next president?
It's good to see the Labour government reconstitute the Pensions Commission to look into the adequacy of retirement savings but placing the triple lock outside of their remit seems like another DWP misstep, not least since the adequacy of voluntary saving depends on the value of the state pension...
July 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
It's good to see the Labour government reconstitute the Pensions Commission to look into the adequacy of retirement savings but placing the triple lock outside of their remit seems like another DWP misstep, not least since the adequacy of voluntary saving depends on the value of the state pension...
Reposted by Rod Hick
The welfare bill has passed but it’s barely the same bill. It is government by cut and paste and with such chaotic speed, many ministers will barely know what’s in it. An utter shambles for Labour - and horrific unnecessary stress and suffering for disabled and sick people watching on.
July 1, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The welfare bill has passed but it’s barely the same bill. It is government by cut and paste and with such chaotic speed, many ministers will barely know what’s in it. An utter shambles for Labour - and horrific unnecessary stress and suffering for disabled and sick people watching on.
Reposted by Rod Hick
The government tried to pull off an arbitrary cut to disability benefits, reverse engineered from a savings target. There was never a coherent argument for it, and so they could never convince. The PM's morality line was particularly misguided. None of it ever connected to the substance of reforms
July 1, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The government tried to pull off an arbitrary cut to disability benefits, reverse engineered from a savings target. There was never a coherent argument for it, and so they could never convince. The PM's morality line was particularly misguided. None of it ever connected to the substance of reforms
Oh dear, oh dear. Timms strongly emphasises transitions into work in his concluding speech, but PIP is not an out-of-work benefit.
July 1, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Oh dear, oh dear. Timms strongly emphasises transitions into work in his concluding speech, but PIP is not an out-of-work benefit.
A lot now depends on the Timms review and government delaying legislation until after it reports implies a deference to its recommendations. Calls in the Commons to bring its reporting schedule forward, but there must also be questions about whether the review needs to be expanded.
July 1, 2025 at 5:22 PM
A lot now depends on the Timms review and government delaying legislation until after it reports implies a deference to its recommendations. Calls in the Commons to bring its reporting schedule forward, but there must also be questions about whether the review needs to be expanded.
There have now been so many concessions that it must be asked what this legislation is now for. It's difficult to see how this doesn't constrain, and risk compromising, the Timms review. The stakes on that review have also raised considerably.
News of a further consession, that the PIP eligibility changes will take place *after* the Timms review into PIP is finished.
Begs the question: why try to pass legislation today about introducing the PIP four-point rule, only to then launch a PIP review which could lead to this being scrapped!?
Begs the question: why try to pass legislation today about introducing the PIP four-point rule, only to then launch a PIP review which could lead to this being scrapped!?
July 1, 2025 at 4:38 PM
There have now been so many concessions that it must be asked what this legislation is now for. It's difficult to see how this doesn't constrain, and risk compromising, the Timms review. The stakes on that review have also raised considerably.
Reposted by Rod Hick
This could be the fatal blow these cuts-posing-as-reforms deserve
Supporting more disabled people into work is a welcome aspiration, but cutting benefits for this group to meet an imposed savings target, with no meaningful consultation, is neither supportive of nor justified by that objective
Supporting more disabled people into work is a welcome aspiration, but cutting benefits for this group to meet an imposed savings target, with no meaningful consultation, is neither supportive of nor justified by that objective
BREAKING - I understand a large number of MPs - potentially 80+ and including select committee chair are signing a reasoned amendment to the welfare bill which declines to give it a second reading
June 23, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This could be the fatal blow these cuts-posing-as-reforms deserve
Supporting more disabled people into work is a welcome aspiration, but cutting benefits for this group to meet an imposed savings target, with no meaningful consultation, is neither supportive of nor justified by that objective
Supporting more disabled people into work is a welcome aspiration, but cutting benefits for this group to meet an imposed savings target, with no meaningful consultation, is neither supportive of nor justified by that objective
And...Chad?
🌞✈️The heatwave has us thinking about holidays. But where do Brits think is best for a holiday? Turns out lots of us are proud homebodies and think the best places are in the UK followed by the Med. Outside of Europe our top choices are Florida, Japan & Australia/New Zealand.
June 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
And...Chad?
Standing in a queue in the lobby of a fairly cheap hotel, being delayed by a former minister from the Blair era losing the plot with staff about having to pay for the WiFi. It was a long way down, I thought.
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
June 21, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Standing in a queue in the lobby of a fairly cheap hotel, being delayed by a former minister from the Blair era losing the plot with staff about having to pay for the WiFi. It was a long way down, I thought.
Nope. The Israeli leadership are war criminals and they should be arrested and put on trial.
"The bare minimum will reach the population - simply so the world doesn't stop us and accuse us of war crimes."
www.bbc.com/news/live/cq...
www.bbc.com/news/live/cq...
May 20, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Nope. The Israeli leadership are war criminals and they should be arrested and put on trial.
Reposted by Rod Hick
What is happening in Gaza will be a permanent stain on the world's collective conscience.
History will never forget how our government was complicit in enabling and sustaining this ongoing humanitarian disaster.
We must end funding for the Netanyahu war machine.
History will never forget how our government was complicit in enabling and sustaining this ongoing humanitarian disaster.
We must end funding for the Netanyahu war machine.
May 12, 2025 at 4:03 PM
What is happening in Gaza will be a permanent stain on the world's collective conscience.
History will never forget how our government was complicit in enabling and sustaining this ongoing humanitarian disaster.
We must end funding for the Netanyahu war machine.
History will never forget how our government was complicit in enabling and sustaining this ongoing humanitarian disaster.
We must end funding for the Netanyahu war machine.
Actual list of 20 cities / towns to spend happy or meaningful time in:
1 Hong Kong
2 Kolkata
3 Mexico City
4 Delhi
5 New York
6 Seoul
7 La Paz
8 Lhasa
9 Mumbai
10 Tbilisi
11 Damascus
12 Shanghai
13 Guilin
14 Pokhara
15 Sarajevo
16 Vientiane
17 Antwerp
18 Bilbao
19 Bethlehem
20 Siena
1 Hong Kong
2 Kolkata
3 Mexico City
4 Delhi
5 New York
6 Seoul
7 La Paz
8 Lhasa
9 Mumbai
10 Tbilisi
11 Damascus
12 Shanghai
13 Guilin
14 Pokhara
15 Sarajevo
16 Vientiane
17 Antwerp
18 Bilbao
19 Bethlehem
20 Siena
As ever, some of the world's most boring cities feature prominently. www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
The world's five happiest cities for 2025
From biking in Copenhagen to lakeside baths in Zurich, locals reveal what makes the world's happiest cities truly joyful – and how their design fosters wellbeing every day.
www.bbc.com
May 16, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Actual list of 20 cities / towns to spend happy or meaningful time in:
1 Hong Kong
2 Kolkata
3 Mexico City
4 Delhi
5 New York
6 Seoul
7 La Paz
8 Lhasa
9 Mumbai
10 Tbilisi
11 Damascus
12 Shanghai
13 Guilin
14 Pokhara
15 Sarajevo
16 Vientiane
17 Antwerp
18 Bilbao
19 Bethlehem
20 Siena
1 Hong Kong
2 Kolkata
3 Mexico City
4 Delhi
5 New York
6 Seoul
7 La Paz
8 Lhasa
9 Mumbai
10 Tbilisi
11 Damascus
12 Shanghai
13 Guilin
14 Pokhara
15 Sarajevo
16 Vientiane
17 Antwerp
18 Bilbao
19 Bethlehem
20 Siena
Indeed, I think I'd sooner take a stint in some of 10 lowest ranking cities: Kunming, Podgorica, Guadalajara, Makati.
As ever, some of the world's most boring cities feature prominently. www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
The world's five happiest cities for 2025
From biking in Copenhagen to lakeside baths in Zurich, locals reveal what makes the world's happiest cities truly joyful – and how their design fosters wellbeing every day.
www.bbc.com
May 16, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Indeed, I think I'd sooner take a stint in some of 10 lowest ranking cities: Kunming, Podgorica, Guadalajara, Makati.
As ever, some of the world's most boring cities feature prominently. www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
The world's five happiest cities for 2025
From biking in Copenhagen to lakeside baths in Zurich, locals reveal what makes the world's happiest cities truly joyful – and how their design fosters wellbeing every day.
www.bbc.com
May 16, 2025 at 4:03 PM
As ever, some of the world's most boring cities feature prominently. www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
Reposted by Rod Hick
How effective are policies of predistribution or redistribution for reducing in-work poverty? How do their effects differ by household type? Some answers in my paper using EU-SILC data out in @europeansocieties.bsky.social:
doi.org/10.1162/euso...
doi.org/10.1162/euso...
No one-size-fits-all solution. Effects of social policies on in-work poverty
Abstract. The paper studies effects of social policies on in-work poverty risks, distinguishing between measures that either intervene in labour market processes - i.e. predistribution policies - or r...
doi.org
May 16, 2025 at 6:20 AM
How effective are policies of predistribution or redistribution for reducing in-work poverty? How do their effects differ by household type? Some answers in my paper using EU-SILC data out in @europeansocieties.bsky.social:
doi.org/10.1162/euso...
doi.org/10.1162/euso...
Reposted by Rod Hick
A great example of using (very) small area geographies to generate headline-grabbing statistics. Bradford Central is a mid-level super output area, one of 63 in the Bradford local authority area. It accounts for 1.2% of the population. 81% of Bradford residents were born in the UK (Census 2021).
🚨 NEW: Robert Jenrick backs PM with claim UK already an ‘island of strangers’ in some places
“Aggressive levels of mass migration have made us more divided... for example central Bradford - 50 per cent of people were born outside of the UK”, he said
Full story ⤵️
www.politics.co.uk/news/2025/05...
“Aggressive levels of mass migration have made us more divided... for example central Bradford - 50 per cent of people were born outside of the UK”, he said
Full story ⤵️
www.politics.co.uk/news/2025/05...
Robert Jenrick backs PM with claim UK already an ‘island of strangers’ in some places - Politics.co.uk
Keir Starmer has faced a backlash after he said the UK risked becoming an island of strangers if migration remained unchecked.
www.politics.co.uk
May 13, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A great example of using (very) small area geographies to generate headline-grabbing statistics. Bradford Central is a mid-level super output area, one of 63 in the Bradford local authority area. It accounts for 1.2% of the population. 81% of Bradford residents were born in the UK (Census 2021).
Reposted by Rod Hick
Jonathan Portes..'We – not me, not my family with its mix of first-, second- and third-generation migrant backgrounds...– are not “strangers” here. The rhetoric and policy we saw yesterday will take us backward to a much uglier, and more dangerous, place."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
There’s one slight issue with Labour’s immigration plans: they’re completely untethered from reality | Jonathan Portes
The government’s new policy will take us back to an uglier, more dangerous place – and it’s not even supported by the data, says professor of public policy Jonathan Portes
www.theguardian.com
May 13, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Jonathan Portes..'We – not me, not my family with its mix of first-, second- and third-generation migrant backgrounds...– are not “strangers” here. The rhetoric and policy we saw yesterday will take us backward to a much uglier, and more dangerous, place."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Rod Hick
Labour's immigration announcement today is a reflection of the paucity of honest debate by BOTH political parties over the last decade on this issue.
Labour has never made a counter-argument, or been honest about economic cost of immigration curbs, so it's stuck making Tory/Reform arguments 1/n
Labour has never made a counter-argument, or been honest about economic cost of immigration curbs, so it's stuck making Tory/Reform arguments 1/n
May 12, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Labour's immigration announcement today is a reflection of the paucity of honest debate by BOTH political parties over the last decade on this issue.
Labour has never made a counter-argument, or been honest about economic cost of immigration curbs, so it's stuck making Tory/Reform arguments 1/n
Labour has never made a counter-argument, or been honest about economic cost of immigration curbs, so it's stuck making Tory/Reform arguments 1/n