Reports
The Birmingham Economic Review 2023
This report from UK think tank City-REDI is a collaborative project with City-REDI, The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and stakeholders across Birmingham. The Birmingham Economic Review (BER) is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an in-depth exploration of the economy of England’s second...
Anti-money-laundering enablers
This report from UK think tank RUSI looks at the four key challenges and how to address them. Kathryn Westmore In the report, Kathryn outlines how the legal and accounting industries have faced mounting criticism over their apparent failure to effectively prevent and detect illicit actors’ money laundering activities, particularly in the wake of the full-scale...
Natural gas and the Energy Trilemma
This report from UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society examines the role of natural gas in the energy trilemma. In this report we examine the role of natural gas in the Energy Trilemma, focusing specifically on the situation in the United Kingdom. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many countries found themselves in an energy...
From missed chances to green advances: the case for a green industrial strategy
This report from UK think tank IPPR looks at the case for a green industrial strategy. The transition to net zero is the economic opportunity of the 21st century. But claims of UK leadership in capturing the economic benefits of the transition to a green economy are wide of the mark. While the UK has...
Fairer winds: workers’ rights in the age of transition
This report by UK think tank IPPR looks at how the UK can learn from the successes and failures of fair transition policies in the US and EU. Countries around the world are starting to build just transition principles into state-led green industrial strategies. Advanced economies, including the US and the EU’s member states, are...
Inn-valuable
This report from UK think tank Localis looks at the value of pubs to society and to the economy. Across Britain, pubs have long stood as familiar and welcoming landmarks. Their significance goes beyond mere watering holes; they have consistently played a pivotal role in knitting communities together and promoting social cohesion. Inn-valuable looks at...
Full scale: how to ensure more British firms grow to their potential
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation highlights other barriers holding UK businesses back from expanding. The UK is an attractive place to start a business, but those start-ups find it harder than in other countries to scale up. This SMF report looks beyond the issue of access to capital to highlight...
Powering up the UK battery industry
This report from UK think tank Green Alliance canvasses industry leaders to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the market. As the UK’s car manufacturing sector gears up to produce electric vehicles, attention is turning to the battery supply chains needed for the car industry to thrive. We surveyed and spoke to industry leaders to...
Innovation hotspots: Clustering the New Economy
This report from UK think tank the Centre for Cities looks at the UK’s 344 innovation hotspots and their potential to address the UK’s sluggish productivity growth. The UK is home to 344 innovative hotspots, with clustered New Economy firms accounting for approximately £18.5 billion and 200,000 jobs to the national economy. Although the clustered...
Working together
This report from UK think tank IPPR looks at how to work towards a new public employment service. The UK’s employment support system is characterised by three core flaws. It is failing to meet the needs of our current or future economy. Extrinsic motivation is crowding out personal ambitions. Provision is too narrow and focussed...
Social tariffs and the cost of living
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation assesses the case for social tariffs as a mechanism to ensure access to essentials. As the cost of living crisis intensifies, there are growing concerns that the market is unable to provide affordable access to essential goods and services. This SMF interim report investigates the...
Future freeports
This report from UK think tank CLES looks at the claims on both sides of the debate and explores how freeports could be done differently. Freeports have been contentious since their announcement. Trade unions, public bodies, think tanks and commentators have all voiced concerns that they will accelerate the extraction of wealth from hard-pressed communities...
The unregulated regulator
This report from UK think tank the Centre for Policy Studies argues that the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill could undermine dynamism in digital markets. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill is a proposed new law which is intended to ‘stamp out unfair practices and promote competition in digital markets’. It would...
Beyond boosterism
This report from UK think tank the Resolution Foundation looks at realigning the policy ecosystem to unleash private investment for sustainable growth. The UK is a low investment nation. Low business investment is a big driver of this. Low investment is one reason behind the UK’s weak productivity growth, which in turn is the main...
Mutual understanding
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation looks at the modern mutual sector and how to support it. This report by the Social Market Foundation provides a comprehensive overview of the modern mutual sector, exploring its key opportunities and challenges. Mutuals offer significant benefits, including economic benefits such being more resilient than...