Policy area: Economics

Reports

Addressing local economic disparities: Learning from policy failure

This report from UK think tank City-REDI examines why the UK remains one of the most interregionally unequal countries in the industrialised world. This report examines why, after more than four decades of national policy, the UK remains one of the most interregionally unequal countries in the industrialised world. Drawing on the academic discipline of...

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Fixing London housing

This report from UK think tanks Onward and the Centre for Policy Studies brings renewed focus to London’s housing crisis and the consequences of failing to address it. London is failing to build the homes it needs. In 2024/25, construction started on just 4,170 homes in the capital, even as the population grew by close...

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Standard issue

This report from UK think tank the Fabian Society explores policies to raise living standards. The US-Israeli war on Iran has prompted yet another shock to the budgets of British households, with potentially dire consequences for living standards. This is the second such shock in five years; but the cost-of-living crisis has been decades in...

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Counting the cost: the economic impact of underserving women’s health

This report from UK think tank Re:State states that closing the gap on women's health isn't a cost the Government can avoid, but an investment it can't afford to skip. Re:State's new report, Counting the cost, makes the case for treating women's health as a core economic issue, not just as a niche health topic....

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Fiscal devolution for England

This report from UK think tank Centre for Cities provides evidence to support the Government’s decision to advance fiscal devolution. In the 2026 Mais Lecture, the Chancellor announced a roadmap to fiscal devolution, including tax sharing of income tax to regional leaders across England. This briefing provides evidence to support the Government’s decision to advance...

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The cost of Brexit, ten years on

This report from UK think tank the Centre for European Reform examines the impact of leaving the customs union and single market on UK trade. A new CER modelling exercise shows that Brexit has substantially reduced the UK’s trade with the EU, both in goods and services. We find that a customs union with the...

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The economic benefits of weight loss medications

This report from Nesta examines the potential economic benefits associated with weight loss medications and digital behavioural support. To better understand the wider economic impacts of weight loss medications, Nesta partnered with Oviva to analyse real-world data from around 2,000 NHS patients living with obesity who took part in a digital weight management programme including...

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Inside the sausage factory

This report from UK think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs examines the role of evidence in public health policymaking in the United Kingdom. This new IEA book, by Dr Christopher Snowdon, exposes the illusion of evidence-based policymaking in Britain through four landmark public health interventions: plain tobacco packaging, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, minimum unit...

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Communities in their places evidence review

This report from UK think tank City-REDI finds that successful interventions require long-term investment, community-led participation and supportive national frameworks. The LPIP Hub 'Communities in their Places' evidence review shows that while communities are central to addressing local economic, social and environmental challenges, their ability to do so varies widely depending on policy frameworks, resources...

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They’re coming home

This report from UK think tank the Resolution Foundation explores the living standards of younger Millennials and Gen Z. This briefing note provides an assessment of the living standards of younger Millennials and Gen Z, given the increasing number of people in their twenties who live with their parents, and what policymakers should do to...

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On morality, human behaviour & economics

This report from UK think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs restates the moral, philosophical and theological case for free-market capitalism. This report from UK think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs introduces On Morality, Human Behaviour and Economics, a new volume edited by Professor Juan Castañeda and Lord Kamall that restates the moral, philosophical...

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Towards a place-based qualitative data observatory

This report from UK think tank City-REDI responds to Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub work on data devolution, transparency, and place productivity. Building on this existing research, it argues that current UK data infrastructures do not yet accommodate the heterogeneous forms of qualitative data on which local, regional and national policymakers increasingly rely. To...

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Liberalism liberated

This report from UK think tank Bright Blue discusses revitalising a traditional and richer liberalism for a better Britain. Liberals need to fight their critics and contortionists. But liberalism desperately needs a reset too: in its philosophical foundations, in its policymaking and in the leaders who represent it. In particular, the publication argues that liberals...

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Outside-In: The role of social entrepreneurs in public sector transformation

This report from UK think tank City-REDI explores the role of social entrepreneurs as 'outside-in' actors in public sector transformation. This policy paper explores the role of social entrepreneurs as “outside-in” actors in public sector transformation. It argues that, in a period of profound institutional transition, public systems need to learn not only from within...

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Everything in its right place

This report from UK think tank Localis explores establishing strong organisations and practices for successful devolution. England is currently undergoing a dual transformation: that of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and the expansion of devolution across metropolitan and, increasingly, rural areas. This period of transition will be marked by significant structural changes impacting the organisational culture,...

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Related Events

13 July 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: Centre for Cities

Devolution and fiscal devolution with Sir Andy Street CBE

This event hosted by UK think tank Centre for Cities discusses whether greater local control over funding can unlock economic growth. Join Centre for Cities for an online discussion with Sir Andy Street CBE, former Mayor of the West Midlands, and Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities. Drawing on his experience leading one of England’s...

14 July 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: RUSI

FATF greylisting and financial inclusion

This event hosted by UK think tank RUSI explores the relationship between FATF ‘greylisting’ and financial inclusion. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global standard-setter on anti-money laundering (AML), countering the financing of terrorism (CFT), and counter-proliferation financing (CPF), has long recognised that financial integrity and financial inclusion should advance hand in hand as...

15 July 2026

Location: Online / Chatham House, 10 St James's Square, London SW1Y 4LE

Think tank: Chatham House

US at 250: Trade vs. Protectionism – America’s enduring economic debate

This event from UK think tank Chatham House assesses America’s struggle to balance independence, openness, and strategic competition in the global economy. As the United States marks its 250th year, the debate over trade, protectionism, and America’s economic role in the world remains as alive as it was at the founding. The argument over whether...

16 July 2026

Location: Online / Resolution Foundation, 2 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AA

Think tank: Resolution Foundation

Breaking free of fiscal chains

This event hosted by UK think tank the Resolution Foundation discusses how to get public finances back on a sustainable path. In recent decades, fiscal policy in the UK has delivered the worst of all worlds. Satisfaction with key public services has fallen, taxes are at a record high, and yet levels of debt –...

16 July 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: Centre for Cities

The role of regeneration in driving growth

This event hosted by UK think tank Centre for Cities discusses how major regeneration projects can unlock investment, boost productivity and support economic growth. Major regeneration projects can play a key role in driving economic growth, attracting private investment and transforming urban economies. This online discussion will explore how cities can deliver ambitious regeneration schemes,...

21 July 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: Institute for Fiscal Studies

Increasing pension contributions: what would higher employer minimums mean?

This event hosted by UK think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies presents findings on employer pension contributions. Automatic enrolment has been a major policy success, substantially increasing workplace pension participation among private sector employees since its introduction in 2012. However, recently there is growing concern that a significant minority of people are not saving...

21 July 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: Chatham House

Can Iraq’s new government survive Middle East instability?

This event hosted by UK think tank Chatham House discusses how the new administration is navigating regional tensions and internal divisions under a fragile political settlement. Iraq’s new government enters office after months of paralysis, shaped by domestic rivalry and external pressure. The incoming administration faces early challenges, as conflict involving Iran, Israel and the...

Related Articles

What would be the one thing you would include in the Spring Budget?

Ahead of the Spring Budget we asked a range of think tanks what would be the one thing they would focus on and include. Don't overcomplicate the cost of living response, just give people cash By Dr Aveek Bhattacharya (Social Market Foundation) In January, with inflation growing and the energy price cap set to rise,...

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How can the UK’s industrial strategy support the ‘levelling up’ agenda?

'Levelling up' has become one of the big agenda items for this government but how can it be helped by industrial strategy? Use the Spending Review and R&D Place Strategy to increase support for business innovation in lagging regions By James Blagden (Onward) In recent decades the UK’s regions have diverged so much that we...

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