This report from UK think tank EDSK explores why the ‘ladder of opportunity’ is brokenfor so many young people and how to fix it The academic pathway from school up to university is a well-trodden and well-understood route. In contrast, for those young people who do not attend university, the first rungs on the ‘ladder...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government outlines the current state of nine public services and the problems they face. The annual Institute for Government/Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) public services stocktake reveals that the government’s spending plans from April 2025 onwards – which Labour have also committed to...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at public services as the UK approaches a general election. The annual Institute for Government/Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) public services stocktake reveals that the government’s spending plans from April 2025 onwards – which Labour have also committed to – will...

This report from UK think tank IPPR looks at how we can build a strategic, ambitious and collaborative response to improve our social security system. Our safety net is failing to protect people from being pulled into poverty. Universal credit is simply inadequate to meet day to day living costs. This means despite temporary cost...

This report by UK think tank the Social Market Foundation looks at an improved framework for social tariffs in the UK. The cost of living crisis has left many households struggling to afford essential goods and services. This SMF report explores the case for social tariffs (discounts offered to vulnerable customers), the goods they are...

This report from UK think tank Onward looks at tackling the crisis on England’s coast. England’s coast holds an important place in Britain’s history. Towns and cities along the shoreline once welcomed holidaymakers from across the country and hosted industries that exported around the world. Today, the coast is in crisis. Cheap international travel has...

This briefing from UK think tank the David Hume Institute looks at the Scottish Child Payment as a policy innovation. The Scottish Child Payment is a bold policy intervention with cross-party backing targeting child poverty and its long-term consequences. This blog aims to stimulate discussion about this Scottish policy innovation and calls for investment and...

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...

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...

This report from UK think tank CEPEO looks at the impact of entering unemployment under UC compared to the former system. The UK Universal Credit (UC) welfare reform simplified the benefits system, combining six benefit applications into one, whilst creating strict incentives for full-time employment. Exploiting a staggered roll-out, we analyse the impact of entering...

This report from UK think tank Resolution Foundation looks at whether Britain can secure broadly shared prosperity. The UK has been living through a period of relative decline that has proved toxic for those on low-to-middle incomes. Against that backdrop, this report examines whether there is still a plausible path to steadily rising shared prosperity...

This report from UK think tank IPPR looks at the universal credit sanctions regime. As the cost of living crisis rages on, the UK’s social safety net has a critical role to play in protecting people from deepening poverty and destitution. But a concerning trend has emerged: the rate of universal credit claimants experiencing sanctions...

This report from UK think tank the Fabian Society looks at building employment insurance for all. The UK’s system of income replacement – financial protection when people leave a job or stop working temporarily – is totally inadequate. According to the latest OECD figures for 2022, jobseeker’s allowance or the basic rate of universal credit...

This report from UK think tank the Centre for Policy Studies presents a new diagnosis of inactivity in the UK. Economic inactivity has become a huge issue in politics – and is expected to be a key area of focus in this week’s Budget. But many of the most common claims about inactivity turn out...

This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation looks at what drives the poverty premium in insurance. This report from the Social Market Foundation think-tank presents new evidence and analysis on experiences of the poverty premium in insurance market. Insurance can provide a vital form of resilience in times of financial strain, and,...

Ahead of the Spring Budget we look at how Universal Credit could be reformed in the recovery from Covid-19. For Universal Credit to provide an adequate safety net it must be properly funded By Paul Hackett (The Smith Institute) If Universal Credit is to provide an adequate safety net it must be properly funded. Making...