The Social Market Foundation (SMF) is a non-partisan think tank. We believe that fair markets, complemented by open public services, increase prosperity and help people to live well. We conduct research and run events looking at a wide range of economic and social policy areas, focusing on economic prosperity, public services and consumer markets. The SMF is resolutely independent, and the range of backgrounds and opinions among our staff, trustees and advisory board reflects this.
Latest reports
Byte the Budget?
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation investigates the state of digital transformation in universities across the UK. British universities are often seen as leaders in research – but are our universities equipped to maintain this status in an increasingly digital age? This report investigates the state of digital transformation in institutions...
Swiss role model? What the UK can learn from how Switzerland rebuilt public trust in its asylum system
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation looks at the Swiss asylum reforms and key takeaways for the UK. The UK is suffering a downward spiral, with collapsing public confidence in the government’s ability to deliver an effective asylum system. This report investigates reforms to the Swiss asylum system designed to address...
Harm, hardship, and the price of inaction
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation examines the costs of Scotland’s drug crisis. Scotland has a drug problem. The issue is likely to be a key one in the upcoming Scottish elections. Questions of the costs of potential interventions, and how worthwhile they are, will be central to decisions made on...
Pension shock
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation examines the potential pension shock facing Gen X. Britain’s middle-aged workers stand on the cusp of a social crisis. Gen X – born between 1965 and 1980 – are next in line for retirement. Born too late to benefit from relatively robust Defined Benefit (DB)...
Trustee as sovereign
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation calls for a pensions governance and regulatory framework fit for 2035. This paper examines the Pension Schemes Bill 2025, supporting its aims while warning against excessive delegated powers and mandated investment in private assets, which could conflict with trustees’ fiduciary duties. It urges caution over...
The system and the cell
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation provides a high-level overview of the key health challenges in British prisons today. Good prisoner health is not only a moral issue but it can also deliver wider benefits, including improved public health and reduced reoffending. Drawing on research and insights from academics at The...
Failure to lead
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation makes the case for a UK lead screening programme. This briefing examines the scale of lead exposure among children in the UK and finds that current systems are failing to identify and prevent harm. Weak surveillance means the true extent of the problem is unknown,...
Fixing the SEND system
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation examines the current policy landscape to assess which reforms are likely to work in practice. England’s SEND system is widely recognised to be in crisis. Government is considering reform but must choose between politically risky structural change and limited tweaks that leave core problems unresolved....
From engagement to action
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation looks at improving retirement saving outcomes with a pensions dashboard health check. Widespread disengagement with pensions is contributing to the UK’s retirement savings crisis. With the transition to defined contribution pensions increasing the individual responsibility to save enough for retirement, this report sets out how a ‘pensions dashboard health check’ could improve citizens’ ability to effectively prepare...
A plodding performance
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation explores the evidence on the efficacy of English and Welsh policing. There are serious performance failings occurring in English and Welsh policing. This report breaks down the latest data, showing poor outcomes in core areas of police competence such as criminal investigation, and highlights poor...
How do we know if it works?
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation evaluates higher education regulation. Higher education has often been lauded as English education’s ‘jewel in the crown’ – but there are no shortage of criticisms about the sector. This briefing investigates the standard of the evaluations of higher education regulation and policy, and outlines recommendations...
Smart enough?
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...
A nation of small investors: Increasing the proportion of British households actively investing
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...
High streets at stake
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation highlights the rise of Adult Gaming Centres and the case for reform. Adult gaming centres (AGCs) offer easy, up to 24-hour access to gaming machines such as slots and bingo. These centres are proliferating across the country, concentrated in the most deprived areas, at a...
Challenges in assessing the impacts of regulation of Artificial Intelligence
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation discusses the challenges in assessing the impacts of regulation of AI. The recent surge in Generative Artificial Intelligence has introduced both opportunities and risks to society. This paper discusses the challenges in assessing the impacts of regulation of AI. It identifies a range of different...