Policy area: Economics

Reports

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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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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Growing up hungry

This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation measures UK child food insecurity in 2026. Since the SMF last looked at child food insecurity, the economic landscape has shifted considerably. There have been seismic global conflicts, major domestic political and policy changes, spanning four prime ministers. This research provides an updated view of...

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May 2026 Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker

This report from UK think tank the David Hume Institute explores the results of their quarterly survey data collected just after the Scottish Parliament election. The findings of the first Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker since the Scottish Parliament Election bring into focus the scale of the challenge facing the new MSPs. Despite growing confidence in...

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Uneven cities

This report from UK think tank Centre for Cities explores the geography of deprivation in urban Britain. Two-thirds of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK are in cities, even though cities and non-urban areas each account for roughly half of all neighbourhoods. Affluent neighbourhoods, by contrast, are split evenly between urban and non-urban areas.

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China shock 2.0: The cost of Germany’s complacency

This report from UK think tank the Centre for European Reform argues that China’s export-driven growth model poses a challenge to Germany’s manufacturing economy. Germany’s industrial model is under mounting pressure from a second China shock – and Berlin can no longer afford to wait for the problem to correct itself. A new study by...

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Work in progress: getting young people ready for the jobs of the 2030s

This report from UK think tank Green Alliance sets out how the government can ensure young people are ready for the jobs of the 2030s. The UK’s green economy is set to grow rapidly, but young people aren’t being prepared for the careers it will create. Youth unemployment is at a ten year high and...

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See it. Say it. Sort it.

This report from UK think tank the Resolution Foundation sets out how the Government can reset Britain’s economic policy. This briefing note sets out how the Government can reset Britain’s economic policy following disastrous local election results, arguing that an honest assessment of where the country stands is the indispensable starting point for repairing its...

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Pay check

This report from UK think tank Centre for Cities shows that rising National Living Wage rates are having very different effects across UK cities and towns. A single national wage floor, combined with varying economic performance across UK cities, means that the impact of the minimum wage is felt very differently in different places. A...

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High housing costs in the private rental sector: The case for action

This report from UK think tank IPPR calls for a new system of rent stabilisation to cap excessive increases, linked to whichever is lower: inflation or wage growth. 45 per cent of all private renters in the UK have unaffordable rents. It's time for the government to act to limit rent increases. In the UK...

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Price caps and economic stability: How to manage the Iran war energy shock?

This report from UK think tank IPPR explores how a well-designed intervention that caps energy prices can limit inflation and insure against the worst outcomes. The Iran war energy shock will impose significant costs on the UK economy, even if the government does not offer a universal support package. As it drives up inflation, we...

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Course correction: How to densify British cities

This report from UK think tank Centre for Cities looks at where city densification needs to occur and what policy needs to do differently. Policy attention towards densifying British cities is welcome, and this research uses data on historic neighbourhood age and Centre for Cities’ residential densities dataset to dig deeper into where densification needs...

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Related Events

22 June 2026

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

Think tank: Resolution Foundation

Leaving EU behind

This event hosted by UK think tank the Resolution Foundation discusses how Britain lost its trading edge and how to get it back. Ten years ago, the UK voted to leave the EU – a major global economic bloc that it had been part of nearly half a century. Such a decision was always bound...

24 June 2026

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

Think tank: Chatham House

Can cities and states lead the shift to climate resilience?

This event hosted by UK think tank Chatham House discusses driving climate action and resilience from the ground up. Cities, local and regional governments are playing an increasingly decisive role in delivering practical solutions on climate action. Their proximity to communities, infrastructure systems and local economies enables faster, more targeted responses to flooding, heat, energy...

25 June 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: Centre for Cities

 Report launch: Big Cities Outlook

This event hosted by UK think tank Centre for Cities discusses how the UK's largest cities are performing and what this means for the national economy. This year, with the Government putting cost of living pressures front and centre, Cities Outlook 2026 looked at how disposable incomes and deprivation vary across the country – and what that...

30 June 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: Centre for Cities

Designing fiscal devolution for growth and fairness

This event hosted by UK think tank Centre for Cities explores how fiscal devolution can be designed to support both economic growth and fair funding across England. With the Government expected to set out a roadmap for fiscal devolution later this year, questions about how greater local control over funding and taxation could support growth...

7 July 2026

Location: Adam Smith Institute, 23 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3DJ

Think tank: Adam Smith Institute

The Next Generation with Denys Demko

This event hosted by UK think tank the Adam Smith Institute discusses Ukraine as a key defence innovation partner for the UK. ​This month, we are thrilled to welcome Denys Demko, Economic Secretary at the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK. Denys is a seasoned diplomat, having served as an advisor to the Deputy Secretary...

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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