Policy@Manchester Articles

Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues

Policy@Manchester Articles: UK economy
You are here: Home / Archives for UK economy

How to kickstart productivity growth in the UK’s towns and cities?

By , and Filed Under: Devo, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth, Levelling up, UK economy, Urban Posted:

The UK’s urban centres are key to driving up economic and productivity growth. However, many post-industrial towns and cities are underperforming. In this article, Dr Marianne Sensier, Dr Kate Penney and Michael Francis from The Productivity Institute, describe their findings from a place-based study of Rochdale and explain what the government and metro mayors can […]

Industrial blue containers in background with large piles of sand in front.

Can hydrogen help decarbonise small industrial emitters?

Maria SharminaHeadshot of Dr Vincenzo Spallina. By and Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Environment, Inclusive Growth, Renewables, Research and development, Science and Technology, UK economy Posted:

Decarbonising industry, among other hard-to-abate sectors, is a high priority in the UK as the country embarks on a pathway to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The government’s focus to date has been on the decarbonisation of large-scale energy-intensive industries. However, more than a fifth of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions come from […]

Woman working in a warehouse moving boxes

Employing a fairer system – improving the labour market for vulnerable groups

Jill Rubery By , and Filed Under: All posts, UK economy, Work Posted:

The Employment Rights Bill sets out proposals to strengthen labour market protections, reduce welfare spending and tackle economic inactivity. It is positioned as a mechanism to deliver the broader policy objective to ‘make work pay’, which includes supply-side reforms designed to tackle unemployment and labour market inactivity. In this article, Mat Johnson, Jill Rubery and […]

Image of a nuclear power station in the background with the bottom of an electricity pylon and a yellow grassy field in the foreground.

Is advanced nuclear the route to low-carbon hydrogen production?

By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Research and development, Science and Technology, UK economy Posted:

There is increasing recognition that a UK net zero future will feature a significant role for hydrogen as an energy vector. The UK currently relies heavily on natural gas for heat, industry and power production. If net zero ambitions are to be realised, this must be replaced with either increased electrification (powered by low-carbon sources) […]

Article image - Woman monitors dark office

A raised platform – regulating the digital economy

Luke Yates author image By Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Cities and Environment, Digital Futures, UK economy, Urban Posted:

Digital economy businesses have grown rapidly in the last 10-15 years, transforming how we work, travel, consume, and contract workers. Some impacts have been problematic, with growth of short-term lettings platforms reducing access to housing, and gig economy platforms increasing the precariousness of work. In this article, Dr Luke Yates outlines research findings on how […]

A scientist working with a bioreactor.

Building the bioeconomy

A profile picture of Professor Aline Miller By Filed Under: Research and development, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology, UK economy Posted:

Current manufacturing processes across all industrial sectors rely on petrochemicals, either to power them, or as starting points for their product. This over reliance on finite fossil resources is having a detrimental impact on the health of the world and its population. Professor Aline Miller explains how industrial biotechnology can break this addiction to petrochemicals […]

Green finance article image - trees in Canary Wharf

New governments bring new opportunities: a way forward for green finance?

James Jackson author headshot By Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Cities and Environment, Environment, UK economy Posted:

Following the result of the general election in July 2024, the new Labour government is now responsible for ensuring the UK gets back on track with its Net Zero objectives. Green finance has become a burgeoning area of climate politics and financial markets, raising the question over how the new government might utilise it to […]

Supermarket aisle with unhealthy food

The childhood obesity crisis – driven by deprivation?

Rachel Griffith By Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, UK economy Posted:

Children growing up in the most deprived areas of the UK are over twice as likely to be obese as children growing up in the least deprived areas. Obesity and associated malnutrition in childhood can have significant long-term impacts on physical and psychological health, and on children’s long-term social and economic outcomes. In this article, […]

Temporary Workers sort asparagus in a production line

Precarious Work: The Consequences for Later Life Security

Kristian Fuzi By and Filed Under: All posts, Inclusive Growth, UK economy, Work, Working Futures Posted:

The concerning trend of precarious work is increasingly the focus of policymakers and researchers. Here, Kristian Fuzi and Professor Debora Price advocate for greater attention to the multiplicity of sectors and the widening age range of the workforce now affected by these working conditions.  Precarious work trends have serious consequences for the financial security of workers […]

Woman delivering medications

Don’t worry about the future, what about the ‘now of work’?

By and Filed Under: All posts, Growth and Inclusion, UK economy, Work Posted:

Amongst all the competing predictions about what the future of work might hold, the challenges of achieving decent work in the foundational economy have been largely overlooked. Here, Dr Mat Johnson and Dr Eva Herman argue that the focus should be on making tangible improvements to the working lives of those in the frontline roles that keep […]

Become a contributor

Would you like to write for us on a public policy issue? Get in touch with a member of the team, ask for our editorial guidelines, or access our online training toolkit (UoM login required).

Disclaimer

Articles give the views of the author, and are not necessarily those of The University of Manchester.

Policy@Manchester

Manchester Policy Articles is an initiative from Policy@Manchester. Visit our web site to find out more

Contact Us

policy@manchester.ac.uk
t: +44 (0) 161 275 3038
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK