Despite devolution deals continuing to make headlines, the United Kingdom remains one of the centralised states in the western world. Here, Dr Su Maddock makes the link between effective regional governance, inclusive growth, and the innovations and negotiating capacities that are essential to meeting the challenges of Brexit. The UK’s regional economic inequalities, rather than […]
Britain’s ‘white working-class’: A divisive term for progressive policy or a necessary distinction?
In response to the Runneymede Trust and CLASS’s report on the white working-class released today, Daniel Evans considers whether this term helps or hinders progressive policies to help those it seeks to define. It would be wrong to privilege the ‘white working-class’ over BME working-class groups, given the levels of ethnic inequality Policy needs to […]
Inclusive growth: changing the logic with a new social contract
Everyone seems to be talking about inclusive growth, from academics and the voluntary sector to business leaders and the Government. Here, Dr Henry Kippin and Dr Carolyn Wilkins OBE look at what people actually mean by inclusive growth and the steps needed to achieve it, using Oldham Council as a case study. There are currently three […]
Healing Divisions: A positive vision for equality and human rights in the UK
As the Prime Minister’s deadline for triggering article 50 looms ever-closer, many questions about the process and implications of Brexit remain unanswered or unclear. Here, Rebecca Hilsenrath, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, lays out what Brexit could mean for rights in the UK and what the Government needs to do to […]
Inclusive Growth: Connecting world-leading research to our local communities
To celebrate the launch of the Manchester Urban Institute, and to highlight the expertise of its academics in terms of urban research, MUI have joined up with Policy@Manchester to deliver a series of blogs focused on the Manchester urban area. The Manchester Urban Institute’s Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit (IGAU) is one of the University of […]
#BeBoldForChange: Taking stock of gender inequalities in the UK in the face of Brexit
As the 2017 International Women’s Day global theme calls on us to ‘be bold for change’, here Professor Colette Fagan, Dr Nina Teasdale and Dr Helen Norman take stock of the UK’s gender-related policy measures. Progress towards gender equality has been uneven and often too slow Since 1957, equality between women and men has been […]
Budget 2017: Productivity is not enough, inclusive growth is the key
As part of Policy@Manchester’s Budget coverage, John Wrathmell, Head of Strategy for New Economy, asks whether actions will follow Philip Hammond’s promising words on productivity and inclusion. The Prime Minister’s aim of wider inclusion in economic success is an important one Greater Manchester’s work on this agenda underpins the City Region’s approach Productivity is part […]
Why Everyday Austerity is Gendered
On the eve of both the Spring Budget and International Women’s Day, Dr Sarah Marie Hall examines the gendered nature of austerity and argues for a new economic system that addresses social inequalities and values caring work. Gaps created by a retreating welfare state are typically attended to by women in communities and families, underpinned […]
Automatic enrolment into workplace pensions: the view from 2016
In December, 2016, the UK government announced there would be a review of auto-enrolment, the policy mechanism adopted in 2012 to increase saving in workplace pensions. University of Manchester researcher Hayley James considers what is known about the impact of auto-enrolment on pension saving so far and which groups this policy is leaving behind. Since […]
What makes dads involved in childcare?
In most countries, mothers spend more than half the amount of time on childcare than fathers. In the UK, dads spend an average of 24 minutes caring for children for every hour that is done by women. However, most dads agree that they should be as involved in childcare as the mother, and many would […]