The three steps needed to climb out of the UK’s fiscal hole 16 July 2026 by Ruth Curtice Dear Chancellor (whoever you are), I advised a few (nine!) Chancellors in my time in the Treasury but never before did I get to write what I think, uninhibited. Even so, Jeremy Hunt said he appreciated me “speaking truth to power with a smile”. So, as you read this unsolicited advice, I promise I’m smiling… … Continued READ MORE
Health and disability· Social security PIP isn’t working. So what would? What does the unpacks the interim report of the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment show and what can we expect from the final report this autumn? 9 July 2026 by Louise Murphy This was first published on our Substack. It’s not often that a Government review of a benefit received by 4 million people delivers its verdict in four words. But the interim report of the Timms Review, published this morning, said simply: “PIP is not working.” As someone who spends a lot of time immersed in disability benefits data … Continued READ MORE
Housing· Generations Whether or not football ‘comes home’, the Zoomers never left What is happening to the living standards of Gen Z? 3 July 2026 by Parth Pandya and Lalitha Try This was first published on our Substack. Football isn’t really our thing, but recently, people have been telling us it’s coming home. However, being in our mid-to-late 20s, we do know that young people like us are coming home – or never left. Nearly two-thirds of people in their early 20s are now living with … Continued READ MORE
Ventures June WorkerTech Round-Up 30 June 2026 by Aish Moothan We write to you amidst yet another heatwave, a World Cup and a flurry of activity around Westminster. It’s safe to say a lot is going on at the minute. Over the past month, the Milburn Review released its first findings. We do a whistlestop tour below of Alan Milburn’s diagnosis of what is driving … Continued READ MORE
Trade Britain is doubling down, as other economies rebalance their trade. Why the UK’s trade profile has lurched in the opposite direction to almost everyone else. 23 June 2026 by Stephen Hunsaker This was first published on our Substack. Every country has a handful of things it is unusually good at selling to the rest of the world. Germany sells cars and machinery; France sells wine, aircraft and luxury goods; the UK sells financial, legal and consulting services. In other words, the sectors where they punch above … Continued READ MORE
Work The labour market is changing – and not obviously for the better June's labour market release tells a story of a weak labour market and show the nature of work is quietly shifting 18 June 2026 by Julia Diniz This was first published on our Substack. The latest labour market release by the ONS (18 June 2026) was a mixed bag. The headline numbers tell a story of a weak labour market, and where the nature of work is quietly shifting. For those thinking the glass might be half full, there were tantalising signs … Continued READ MORE
Public finances Defence versus welfare – the trade-off is being misrepresented Why it's important we have a clear picture of how we spent the peace dividend while it was around. 12 June 2026 by Ruth Curtice This was first published on our Substack. Defence versus welfare – the trade-off is being misrepresented The debate around where to get the money for higher defence spending from has been raging in government for some time. Ministerial resignations this week over the funding of the defence investment plan forced the issue to the top … Continued READ MORE
Technology· Ventures We Are Not Machines Sarah O'Connor's new book on the impact of automation and AI on work speaks to the workplace challenges that the WorkerTech Fund is trying to address 10 June 2026 by Louise Marston This article was first published on our Substack Last week, Sarah O’Connor came to the Resolution Foundation to launch her new book ‘We Are Not Machines‘. Fans of her FT column, and her AI newsletter, The AI Shift, co-written with John Burn-Murdoch, will not be surprised that the book is both insightful and deeply human. Through the … Continued READ MORE
Work· Social security We can’t overlook education and benefits if we want to reduce the NEET rate Focusing too much on work to reduce the rising NEET rate risks overlooking two key areas 9 June 2026 by Alex Clegg This article was initially published on our Substack. The Interim Report of the Milburn Review made a stark warning about a ‘lost generation’ of young people. It was backed by two sets of data the same day revealing grim milestones – ONS figures revealed that the number of 16–24-year-old NEETs (young people not in education, employment or training) has surpassed … Continued READ MORE
Ventures May WorkerTech Round-Up 31 May 2026 by Aish Moothan We hope you’re staying hydrated through these record-breaking temperatures May has brought us! This month, we’re shining a light on some uncomfortable truths about power and pay in the UK’s lowest-paid sectors. Our colleagues in the Resolution Foundation have worked with portfolio company Organise to publish new research on what it really feels like to … Continued READ MORE
Pensions Future proofing How worried should people be about their pensions? The key takeaways from the Pensions Commission’s interim report. 26 May 2026 by Mike Brewer and Parth Pandya This article was initially published on our Substack. For many, their pension is simply too boring, and too distant, to think about. But the Government should take credit for thinking about what living standards might look like in 2050, especially given we don’t even know who will be Prime Minister next month. For those of you … Continued READ MORE
Work The latest data shows us that the UK labour market wasn’t in good shape on the eve of the Iran war The latest ONS labour market statistics and what these tell us about the UK economy at the start of the year 19 May 2026 by Nye Cominetti This article was initially published on our Substack. The Government has said the economy was on the right track before the Iran war, pointing to surprisingly strong GDP data for Q1 2026. The same can’t be said of the labour market. ONS stats published this morning (19 May 2026) shows a weak labour market in the … Continued READ MORE
The UK has become more equal but ethnic minorities still earn less than their White counterparts How income inequality between ethnic minorities and their White counterparts has changed over the past three decades 15 May 2026 by Jamie Titus-Glover This article was initially published on our Substack. Following the news this week, it can feel like political realities in the UK are changing by the minute. For anyone who, like me, is finding the live feeds a little dizzying, this article steps back and thinks about how economic outcomes change over decades and generations. … Continued READ MORE
Public finances Three myths about UK borrowing and growth 13 May 2026 by Ruth Curtice Three myths shape debates about government borrowing and growth. First, that the cause of our growth woes is an overbearing, miserly finance ministry. Borrowing too little has just not ranked among Britain’s recent weaknesses. Debt has doubled since the financial crisis. We now pay more to borrow than any other G7 economy. Consequently, debt interest consumes more … Continued READ MORE
Ventures April WorkerTech Round-Up 30 April 2026 by Aish Moothan In this month of seasonal transition, the weather is marked with uncertainty here in the UK. It just so happens that this month, the Resolution Foundation has been looking at another transition marked with uncertainty – that of young people and the labour market. Particularly under the spotlight: Why are more young people falling out … Continued READ MORE
Demographics The UK’s demographic squeeze What do the next few years hold for the UK’s population and demographic makeup, and what does that mean for the public finances? 29 April 2026 by Charlie McCurdy and Elliott Christensen This article was originally published on our Substack. There are some mixed messages floating around about the UK’s population. On the one hand, we’ve seen record levels of immigration. On the other, we’re facing a baby bust. So how does it all shake out? The ONS’s latest release offers some clarity. Their 2024-based population projections, published yesterday, show … Continued READ MORE
Growth Good data in hard times Simon Pittaway reflects on the puzzling arrival of good economic news in the midst of a global energy shock. 23 April 2026 by Simon Pittaway This post was originally published on our Substack. The war in Iran and its impact on global energy markets have sent shockwaves through the UK economy. Consumer confidence is down, as fuel prices and interest rates rise. And, while most households’ energy costs are shielded by the Ofgem price cap for now, April is a key month for businesses renewing their energy contracts. … Continued READ MORE
Net zero Cutting the cord Jonathan Marshall and Matthew Cavanagh dive into the details of the Government's plans to 'de-link' gas and electricity prices. 21 April 2026 by Jonathan Marshall This post was originally published on our Substack. The news that the Government is planning to ‘de-link’ gas and electricity prices has been leading discussions on energy policy this week. But for those who, understandably, spend less time keeping up with the ins and outs of energy bills and the Government’s drive to net zero … Continued READ MORE
Prices & consumption· Incomes Higher energy prices could leave typical British households £480 worse off this year Mike Brewer and the RF team unpack what the current conflict in the Middle East means for living standards 15 April 2026 by Mike Brewer This post was originally published on our Substack. Never has the phrase ‘fog of war’ been more apt. The fighting in the Middle East had looked all set to escalate just before dialing down, and nobody knows if an incomplete truce can hold. Reacting to every development, oil and gas prices have seemed almost as … Continued READ MORE
Generations· Demographics Wanted: two children People still want kids, so why is the number of births at a 150-year low? RF's Charlie McCurdy on the material constraints that lie behind the recent British baby bust. 2 April 2026 by Charlie McCurdy This post was originally published on our Substack. Back when my mum was my age – I’m in my early-30s – she had three kids. I don’t have any yet, and lots of my friends are in the same boat. I hope you (and my family) don’t mind this personal insight. I say this only … Continued READ MORE
Ventures March Workertech Round-up 31 March 2026 by Aish Moothan To assuage the (considerable) volatility from the news these days, we’ve rounded up some positive (promise!) stories from across our portfolio. For our headline, we’re pleased to share the news of our investment into Blend, a video-based microlearning platform built for the deskless workforce. Read the full announcement below to learn more about the fast-growing company and … Continued READ MORE
Housing· Macroeconomic policy The huge homeownership hurdle Hannah Aldridge, Senior Research and Policy Analyst at the Resolution Foundation, explains why having a decent salary isn't always enough to get a mortgage, and what we can do about it. 27 March 2026 by Hannah Aldridge I’ve reached a point in my life where many of my peers are homeowners who talk about things like ‘kitchen triangles’[1]. As someone who doesn’t own their home, I nod smile and remind myself that I’m not alone. That’s what the data says anyway – the number of mortgagors is falling, more so among low … Continued READ MORE
Incomes· Inequality & poverty· Social security A clearer picture of household incomes – but no cause for complacency on poverty The latest Households Below Average Income release uses survey data linked to benefit administration records for the first time – but what does this mean for poverty rates? 27 March 2026 by Alex Clegg The Department for Work and Pensions has published its latest release of Households Below Average Income (HBAI), its flagship data source on household incomes and poverty. This release provides outturn figures for 2024–25. Our focus on the living standards of low and middle income households at Resolution Foundation means we are always very excited by this publication. But this year’s release is particularly significant as it marks the first time DWP has published estimates of household incomes that combine people’s responses to the survey with information from … Continued READ MORE
Work· Mobility The long shadow of childhood poverty Beating the odds to attend university isn't enough to remove the poverty penalty 24 March 2026 by Greg Thwaites Here’s some uncomfortable reading for you. If you grew up in deep poverty and managed to get yourself a university degree – already a long-odds achievement – you will still earn thousands of pounds a year less than your more privileged peers a decade into your career. Even if you studied the same subject, at … Continued READ MORE
Ventures February WorkerTech Round-Up 27 February 2026 by Aish Moothan For the shortest month of the year, February sure has been busy for our colleagues at the Resolution Foundation! We published Unsung Britain this month, a report that culminates an 18-month research and analysis on the living standards of the 13 million working-age families across the poorer half of the country. We’ve summed up the … Continued READ MORE
