Publications Yanked away Accounting for the post-pandemic productivity divergence between Britain and America 8 April 2025 by Simon Pittaway Britain’s record of productivity growth in the 2010s was dismal. But halfway through the 2020s things appear to have got worse not better, with official data likely understating the scale… Continue Reading
Publications How to do industrial strategy A guide for practitioners 7 April 2025 by David Willetts This paper sets out a practical approach to industrial strategy in the UK, focused on boosting private investment and productivity. It proposes twenty policy tools spanning sectors, technologies, places, funding… Continue Reading
Events A league of their own What can the UK learn from the US’ post-pandemic productivity acceleration? Tuesday 8 April 2025 What is driving the US’ impressive productivity outperformance? How does it differ from the UK, and what lessons can be drawn? And what can firms and policy makers do to… Continue Reading
Events The metrics that really matter How can we better measure economic and societal change? Thursday 3 April 2025 Book launch for The Measure of Progress by Diane Coyle. Britain has endured a prolonged period of economic stagnation, with real household disposable incomes having barely grown since the financial… Continue Reading
Comment The Government’s economic strategy becomes more concrete 29 January 2025 by Greg Thwaites The Chancellor’s speech today provided some more detail on how the Government plans to boost growth. One can begin to discern the outlines of a growth strategy taking shape, and… Continue Reading
Publications The art of strategy How to make a success of the Government’s new Industrial Strategy 9 December 2024 by Greg Thwaites and David Willetts This report critiques the Government’s Invest 2035 industrial strategy Green Paper. It calls for investing in better data and workforce skills, using public procurement as an instrument, and leaning in… Continue Reading
Publications Net zeroing in on investment Priorities for the new Government in delivering a fair transition 22 July 2024 by Jonathan Marshall Cutting carbon in the second half of the 2020s is all about investment, but high upfront costs and wider economic woes mean these could be insurmountable for many. This paper… Continue Reading
Events Powering Britain Can we decarbonise electricity without disadvantaging poorer families? Monday 22 April 2024 The UK’s transition towards a net zero economy requires a complete overhaul of our power sector. We don’t just need electricity generation that has been decarbonised, but a huge amount… Continue Reading
