This report from UK think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs analyses spontaneous order and its implications. Spontaneous order is crucial for understanding fundamental human institutions (e.g. language and the law, morals, markets and money) and for defending individual liberty. But its operation is often overlooked. Empirical studies have confirmed that spontaneous order has been...

This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation examines how low income households can benefit from smart data initiatives. Smart data has the potential to help people to access the best products and services – saving them money while facilitating product innovation. Despite this, and cross-party backing, challenges remain around whether the market...

This report from UK think tank NCUB looks at the evidence on collaboration between universities and businesses. NCUB’s annual State of the Relationship report is an evidence tool to strengthen collaboration between universities and businesses. It offers important insights into the scale and nature of interactions between universities and businesses, identifying patterns and trends over...

This report from UK think tank the Resolution Foundation puts the Autumn Budget 2025 decisions on tax, spending and borrowing into context. The Chancellor’s second tax-rising budget arrived under dark clouds, but forecasts came in better than feared. But even though she was saved from the worst predictions of past weeks, the Chancellor still faced...

This report from UK think tank City-REDI examines community empowerment and living heritage in 2026. Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill coming into action in the UK. The paper provides an initial provocation as to whether 2026 could provide the strongest mandate yet for valuing community culture and...

This report from UK think tank Green Alliance explores how to transform the food system through legislation and mandatory reporting. The UK food system sits at the heart of major challenges facing the country: NHS pressures, climate change, food security and the cost of living crisis. It’s responsible for 12% of UK greenhouse gas emissions...

This report from UK think tank The David Hume Institute looks at the economic outlook for Scots. The final Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker for 2025 highlights widespread pessimism about Scotland’s economic outlook and its growing impact on daily life. The Tracker, commissioned by the David Hume Institute and produced by Diffley Partnership, reveals that around...

This report from UK think tank Centre for Cities addresses exactly where British cities should increase density and how they can do it. Britain needs more homes – and it needs them in its cities. The housing crisis, inefficient urban transport, and the underperformance of major urban economies all point in the same direction: higher-density urban...

This report from UK think tank City-REDI examines business cases and place-based funding. This report critically examines the application of the Better Business Case Green Book model by practitioners when seeking to secure past place-based economic development funding. The business case framework is used to appraise and manage the development of an intervention, as set...

This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation recommends measures to strengthen personal finances and provide a boost to the UK economy. Britain is a country of investors – they just don’t know it. This report outlines the current state of the UK’s retail investment landscape, highlights the shortcomings that mean households are...

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at capitalising on the strengths of Local London so all residents can live well, succeed and thrive. Local London is the capital’s largest and fastest-growing sub-region. It is home to 2.7 million people. It boasts 40% of London’s land and significant reserves of developable...

This report from UK think tank City-REDI argues that social value must be reclaimed as a driver of system change. This policy brief argues that social value must be reclaimed as a driver of system change rather than reduced to compliance exercises. It outlines a stewardship approach across three dimensions – procurement, governance, and community...

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust compares intergenerational social mobility and higher education in the US and UK. Social mobility remains a key challenge for both the UK and US. Despite successive governments stating a clear desire to improve social mobility and putting in place bodies to promote this (for example, the...

This report from UK think tank the National Institute of Economic and Social Research analyses the UK economic outlook in the autumn of 2025. The Autumn Budget comes at a pivotal moment for the UK economy. Growth has held up better than expected, inflation is expected to ease, and interest rates are likely to begin...

This report from UK think tank Centre for Cities explores how transport integration could improve public transport and support economic growth.   Transport is the wiring that allows urban economies to function. But this wiring is faulty in big UK cities outside of London. This presents a problem for a national government wanting to deliver...