All posts – Page 35

Autumn Budget 2017 – We Need to Talk about Blue Skies Science

By Anna Scaife Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Budget 2017, Science and Technology Posted: November 20, 2017

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget Anna Scaife, Co-Director at Policy@Manchester and Professor of Radio Astronomy in the School of Physics and Astronomy at The University of Manchester, highlights the need for government to increase funding for fundamental scientific research in the UK. The UK lags behind most of the world in terms of its research […]

Does religion matter for attitudes towards immigration?

By Ingrid Storm Filed Under: All posts, Europe Posted: November 16, 2017

Dr Ingrid Storm from The University of Manchester examines religiosity and attitudes to immigration in Europe. She found that religious conformity to the national average is associated with negative attitudes toward immigration. Religion does not predict immigration attitudes uniformly across countries. Those who belong to majority denominations are more likely to be concerned about immigration. […]

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and the Internet of Things

By Steve Furber Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Science and Technology Posted: November 15, 2017

Computers are everywhere with a myriad of consumer, automotive, medical and communications devices hosting microprocessors and the Internet of Things will result in an increase in reliance on this technology. In this blog, Steve Furber, Professor of Computer Engineering, discusses the challenges for Dr Patrick Vallance, the new Government Chief Scientific Advisor on artificial intelligence, […]

Trouble in Paradise – Corporate Vehicles and Contemporary Tax Avoidance

By Nicholas Lord, Karin van Wingerde and Liz Campbell Filed Under: All posts, British Politics Posted: November 6, 2017

Yesterday news broke on the so-called ‘Paradise Papers’, a leak of 13.4 million files detailing the financial behaviours of individual and corporate elites, including questionable financial arrangements facilitating the avoidance of tax liabilities – Dr Nicholas Lord (The University of Manchester), Dr Karin van Wingerde (Erasmus University Rotterdam) and Prof Liz Campbell (Durham University) outline […]

Can macroprudential regulation promote both financial stability and growth in low-income countries?

By Pierre-Richard Agénor Filed Under: All posts, Inclusive Growth Posted: October 30, 2017

On October 18th, Policy@Manchester organised a Paris conference on Financial Volatility and Macroprudential Regulation in Low-Income Countries. The conference, held in conjunction with the French foundation FERDI and a Moroccan think tank, the OCP Policy Centre, was attended by a number of senior policymakers from Africa and France. In this blog Professor Pierre-Richard Agénor discusses […]

Charting a course to better jobs in Greater Manchester

By Stephen Clarke Filed Under: All posts, Inclusive Growth, Urban Posted: October 26, 2017

Resolution Foundation research reveals five key challenges: halting the region’s relative decline, addressing the growth in ‘atypical’ work, ending the pay squeeze, encouraging progression and ensuring young people can access well-paid work. Getting people into work should be a priority, but more attention needs to be paid to the types of jobs. People on zero […]

Income security may increase secularity, but not vice versa

By Ingrid Storm Filed Under: All posts, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth Posted: October 16, 2017

Dr Ingrid Storm from The University of Manchester examines economic decline and church attendance in Britain. She found that despite regular churchgoers being able to cope better with economic loss; economic decline does not increase church attendance. More than half the population of Britain consider themselves to have no religion. Those who have experienced a loss […]

What does gender mean at the WTO, and who benefits?

By Silke Trommer and Erin Hannah Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Growth and Inclusion Posted: October 10, 2017

Following the World Trade Organisation’s recent Public Forum, Dr Erin Hannah and Dr Silke Trommer reflect on the new focus on gender in global trade and the challenges of addressing it. Inserting meaningful gender sensitivity into the business of the WTO will require a massive paradigm shift and change in thinking The appointment of a […]

Working towards a new Prevent strategy

By Bob Hindle Filed Under: All posts Posted: October 5, 2017

In recent months both Theresa May and Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, have made significant interventions in the debate on counter extremism. In this blog, Bob Hindle of Manchester Institute of Education, explains why a new Prevent strategy is needed, and how that might develop. Policy must consider wider educational responsibilities such as strengthening community […]

The pros and cons of university innovation and exploitation

By Paul O'Brien Filed Under: All posts, Inclusive Growth Posted: September 25, 2017

Paul O’Brien, Professor of Inorganic Materials at The School of Chemistry and The School of Materials, at The University of Manchester discusses innovation and exploitation within UK Universities. Universities exist in my opinion for three reasons: to provide education; to create new knowledge and understanding; and to benefit society through vocational training, transferable ideas and/or […]