Social mobility speech by Secretary of State for Education Damian Hinds MP Tuesday 31 July 2018 Boosting social mobility is now a widely shared goal of policy makers around the world. But actually achieving that goal is easier said than done. Parental achievement, rather than individual talent, remains a big determinant of young people’s opportunities in life. And schools, colleges, universities and employers all now recognise the need to do more … Continued READ MORE
Poverty and inequality: Lessons from the past, decisions for the future Tuesday 24 July 2018 Since the financial crisis the strength and distribution of household income has dominated much of our political discourse, in stark contrast to a lack of discussion pre-crisis. But the experience of the past actually has much to teach us about the choices Britain faces today. So what has been the story of poverty and inequality … Continued READ MORE
Opportunities knocked? Tackling racial disadvantages and discrimination in the workplace Wednesday 18 July 2018 Over the past two decades, educational attainment and employment have risen across Britain, and in particular amongst many ethnic minority groups. But despite this progress, substantial pay gaps between white workers and ethnic minorities persist. With the introduction of the government’s Race Disparity Unit, questions around ethnicity and inequality are rightly rising up the political … Continued READ MORE
Living standards For richer, for poorer? Inequality highs and lows across rich economies Tuesday 17 July 2018 Book launch for Inequality and Inclusive Growth across Rich Countries Inequality is now a central focus of political and economic debates across rich countries. But while there are common trends that are well known, countries across the West each have their own experience of inequality over the last 40 years. Understanding how patterns of inequality … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Time to care? Finding a lasting solution to Britain’s social care crisis Monday 9 July 2018 Growing funding pressures and seasonal crises have raised public concern about our NHS and forced politicians to act – with the Prime Minister announcing a £20bn funding package for the NHS last month. But the crisis in social care is even more pressing – yet successive governments have ducked decisions on funding a lasting solution … Continued READ MORE
London stalling? The past, present and future of our capital’s economy Wednesday 27 June 2018 London is often said to be a different country within the UK, and it’s living standards story differs from the rest of the country too. How dependent is post-financial crisis London on the City? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the capital’s labour market? How is housing shaping the living standards challenges Londoners face? … Continued READ MORE
Healthy Finances? How to pay for the NHS’s 70th birthday present Tuesday 12 June 2018 As Britain prepares to mark the 70th birthday of the NHS, healthcare has become the most pressing worry for British adults. As a result, dealing with its immediate and longer term funding gaps has risen up the political agenda. But while that means there is now a political consensus that the NHS needs greater funding, … Continued READ MORE
Macronomics: Assessing the new French radicalism Tuesday 5 June 2018 Speech by Pierre-André Imbert, Social Policy Advisor to President Macron President Macron swept to victory in the French elections last year on a ticket of radical reform. In government he has begun to roll-out the promised reforms – and more. Among the most controversial are plans to reform the French labour market, which has long … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Regulating the regulators: The power and legitimacy of the central bankers directing our economy Tuesday 22 May 2018 Book launch for Unelected Power by Paul Tucker Central bankers have played a key role in directing economies across the world since the financial crisis. From the slashing of interest rates, to the introduction of Quantitative Easing and major reforms to who can get a mortgage, the decisions of central Banks profoundly affect people’s living … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Grand Challenges: How Britain can boost its prosperity amidst global economic shifts Tuesday 22 May 2018 A series of lunchtime discussions with Ministers across government and leaders from the worlds of business, technology and policy, hosted by the Resolution Foundation Monday 21 – Thursday 24 May, Resolution Foundation offices, St James’ Park Raising productivity lies at the heart of our living standards and wider economic prospects. But finding the right levers … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Off the floor: Britain’s new low pay challenges Friday 18 May 2018 The National Living Wage has transformed Britain’s low pay landscape, with the number of low waged workers falling significantly for the first time in 40 years. But Britain’s low pay challenges are far from over, and a higher minimum wage, crucial as that is, cannot solve them all. We need to focus on those new … Continued READ MORE
Living standards· Intergenerational Centre Re-assessing the Generational Contract: Examining intergenerational equity across advanced economies Monday 14 May 2018 Monday 14 May, 9.30am-5.30pm, Resolution Foundation offices, St James Park Questions about intergenerational equity have risen up the economic and political agenda in recent years. From why the rapid generation-on-generation incomes gains of the 20th century have ended, to how the market and state should respond to ageing populations, these are some of the biggest … Continued READ MORE
Living standards· Intergenerational Centre Repairing Britain’s generational divide: The Intergenerational Commission’s Final Report launch Tuesday 8 May 2018 From the Brexit vote and the shock election result last year to the housing crisis and Britain’s painful pay squeeze – the issue of intergenerational fairness has hit centre stage in Britain’s political debate. Old and young alike worry that the 20th century norm of each generation enjoying higher living standards than the generation before … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Wealth creation in the 21st Century: Who is and isn’t doing it? Tuesday 24 April 2018 UK book launch of The Value of Everything: Making and Taking in the Global Economy by Mariana Mazzucato Politicians always say they’re on the side of wealth creators. But who are Britain’s real wealth creators, and does government do a good enough job of incentivising them? A key critique of modern capitalism is that for all the … Continued READ MORE
Labour market The new precariat: exploitation or opportunities in Britain’s labour market? Thursday 19 April 2018 The Resolution Foundation presents a double header book launch on the modern world of work: Humans as a Service: The Promise and Perils of Work in the Gig Economy by Jeremias Prassl Hired: Six Months Undercover in Low-Wage Britain by James Bloodworth The gig economy has the potential to revolutionise work, offering more independence for workers, but this … Continued READ MORE
Housing· Intergenerational Centre Home improvements: The role of housing policy in renewing the intergenerational contract Tuesday 17 April 2018 The last decade has seen housing at last work its way to the top of the political agenda. From much lower home ownership and higher housing costs for younger generations, to the sharp increase in families living in less secure rented accommodation, there is now a cross party consensus that Britain faces some serious questions … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Due an upgrade? What to expect in the Spring Statement Thursday 8 March 2018 The Office for Budget Responsibility delivered the mother of all forecast downgrades in the Autumn Budget last November, revising borrowing up £91bn and annual pay down £1,000. Four months on, and with the Treasury promising a quickfire Spring Statement, the focus will be on whether the latest OBR economic outlook makes more positive reading. Could … Continued READ MORE
Welfare· Intergenerational Centre Capital punishment? Wealth taxation in 21st century Britain Monday 5 March 2018 Speech by Resolution Foundation Executive Chair Lord David Willetts Britain owns a record £13 trillion of wealth – a figure that has grown much faster than GDP in recent decades, while the share of tax collected from it has stayed the same. Given the huge fiscal pressures Britain faces in the coming years and decades, … Continued READ MORE
Labour market· Intergenerational Centre Get off your (courier) bike: getting millennials’ careers back on track Monday 26 February 2018 Young people have been hit harder than any other age group by the post-crash pay squeeze, but their pay problems predated the financial crisis. Youth unemployment is low, but millennials are disproportionately likely to find themselves in insecure work. And while millennials are often thought of ‘job hoppers’, they’re actually moving jobs less frequently than … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Beating the forecasts: can Britain overcome official projections for weak growth and flat incomes? Thursday 22 February 2018 Keynote speech by Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell The official outlook for the economy is one of slow GDP growth, very weak pay rises and flat household incomes. So it’s no wonder the Chancellor vowed to ‘beat the forecasts’ at the last Autumn Budget. But how can Britain better the bleak outlook set out by the … Continued READ MORE
Monetary policy· Housing Causes and Consequences: The role of household debt in 21st Century Britain Monday 12 February 2018 The growth in household debt has outpaced growth in household incomes in recent years, putting questions about the causes and consequences of higher debt back in the spotlight. Should we worry that higher debt means that another credit crisis could be brewing? Or is growing household debt instead an indicator of rising consumer confidence? What … Continued READ MORE
Living standards New Year, New Politics: An Attlee settlement for 21st century Britain Tuesday 30 January 2018 January is traditionally a time to take on exciting new challenges, and British politics is no exception. The country faces a number of domestic issues beyond Brexit, from the shape of the public finances and the quality of public services to getting living standards growing again. What domestic policies should the government and opposition focus … Continued READ MORE
Living standards New Year, New Politics: A Conservative programme for economic and social renewal Monday 29 January 2018 January is traditionally a time to take on exciting new challenges, and British politics is no exception. The country faces a number of domestic issues beyond Brexit, from the shape of the public finances and the quality of public services to getting living standards growing again. What domestic policies should the government and opposition focus … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Time for time and a half? Should overtime hours mean premium pay Tuesday 12 December 2017 Matthew Taylor’s government-commissioned Review of Modern Working Practices took a long look at the UK labour market and made many recommendations to raise the quality of work. Central among these was a proposal for a higher minimum wage for non-guaranteed hours. This shone a light on a long-neglected part of UK employment policy – overtime. … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Back to the Future: The outlook for retirement 15 years on from the Pensions Commission Monday 27 November 2017 In the autumn of 2002, Chancellor Gordon Brown announced a Pensions Commission to explore the outlook for pensioner incomes if the system continued unaltered and to make recommendations for improving that outlook. 15 years on, its recommendations – including auto-enrolment into low cost pensions and a more generous but delayed state pension – have become … Continued READ MORE
