Comment 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,… Continue Reading
Comment 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,… Continue Reading
Publications Bye bye baby Assessing Britain’s falling birth rate since the early 2010s 1 April 2026 by Charlie McCurdy This briefing explores Britain’s recent baby bust and whether it should be a cause for concern for policymakers. Most developed countries are grappling with a falling birth rate, and the… Continue Reading
Events The Great British Baby Bust Should we worry about the UK’s falling birth rate, and can we do anything about it? Wednesday 1 April 2026 All developed countries are grappling with a falling birth rate, and the UK is no different. While the UK’s birth rate has often fluctuated, it has fallen sharply since 2012,… Continue Reading
Publications Ageing in the fast and slow lane Examining geographic gaps in ageing 8 January 2025 by Charlie McCurdy Like most countries, the UK is ageing – over the past five decades its median age has risen from 34 to 41. This deep demographic trend has all sorts of… Continue Reading
Publications Unsung Britain The changing economic circumstances of the poorer half of Britain 13 November 2024 by Mike Brewer and Molly Broome and Nye Cominetti and Adam Corlett and Charlie McCurdy and Louise Murphy and Cara Pacitti and Hannah Slaughter and James Smith and Lalitha Try This report marks the launch of Unsung Britain, a one-year research programme designed to understand the economic circumstances of today’s low-to-middle income families and how these have changed in recent… Continue Reading
Events Living life to the full How can we make our longer lives healthier, happier and more productive? Thursday 21 March 2024 Book launch for The Longevity Imperative by Professor Andrew J Scott Britain, along with many other countries, is getting older and living longer. This demographic shift has huge health, economic… Continue Reading
Events New age or age-old appeal How different generations view the parties and issues that will determine the General Election Wednesday 7 February 2024 In recent decades age has replaced class as one of the key determinants of a voter’s values and voting behaviour. But these trends never sit still, especially as issues –… Continue Reading
