Analysis and action on living standards
This briefing note assesses how the Government’s upcoming Warm Homes Plan should be shaped to meet the twin challenges of reducing energy bills while also driving decarbonisation of home heating. It outlines the need for strategic decisions on what the capital budget assigned to the plan should fund, and how these limited funds should be targeted.
Housing is fundamental to living standards. It is most families’ largest expense, meaning disposable incomes are highly sensitive to changes in rents or mortgage payments. Our 12 housing indicators track how housing is affecting living standards in the UK. Using data from 13 separate sources, some of the indicators below describe the situation today – such as affordability and housing quality – while some are forward-looking indicators – such as housing supply and the performance of the planning system.
The Resolution Foundation is an independent think-tank focused on improving living standards for those on low-to-middle incomes. We work across a wide range of economic and social policy areas, combining our core purpose with a commitment to analytical rigour.
Disability disproportionately affects the poorer half of Britain. But to fully understand the impact on families, we need to consider not only those directly affected but also the friends and family members who may care for them. This briefing notecombines quantitative data with insights from focus groups to explore how disabilities and caring responsibilities affect these families’ lives and living standards.
Improving employment outcomes for disabled people is essential not just for raising living standards across Britain, but for supporting economic growth, reducing inactivity due to ill health, and curbing health-related benefit spending. This report sets out policy proposals on how the Government can effectively incentivise and support businesses to hire and retain disabled workers.
The Resolution Foundation calculates the real Living Wage – a voluntary hourly pay rate that is based on what families need to get by. The current national rate is:
Resolution Ventures exists to back innovative start-ups seeking to change the world of work for the better and early-stage ventures seeking to improve the prospects of low-to-middle income Britain.
Your weekend guide to top political-economy research from around the world
Today’s announcement of a new Pensions Commission marks a welcome return to long-term thinking about retirement. The original Commission, launched more than two decades ago, laid the groundwork for auto-enrolment, which has enabled millions more people to save for later life. But despite the progress, the job is far from done.
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