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Turning gadgets into productivity

Bart van Ark By Filed Under: All posts, Digital Futures, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth, Levelling up, OnProductivity, Science and Technology, UK economy Posted:

The Industrial Revolution brought about great economic success in the north of the United Kingdom that translated into a social, cultural and urban transformation. However, the Digital Revolution of today has not had the same impact on the UK, and particularly, the north. In this blog, Professor Bart van Ark explores how and why productivity […]

Skills, Productivity and Regional Inequality: why a ‘one size fits all’ approach can’t work

By Filed Under: British Politics, Devo, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth, Levelling up, OnProductivity, UK economy Posted:

Skills are important contributors to the improvement of productivity. With new skills, there are associated higher wages and better living standards. However, implementing a better agenda for skill improvement in policy can prove extremely challenging. There are several layers of skills and their applications that need to be considered at different levels of distribution. Professor […]

Global partnerships: How can international research collaborations boost our health and economy?

By , and Filed Under: Health and Care, Research and development, Science and Technology, UK economy Posted:

The University of Manchester is a founding partner of the Kenya-UK Healthcare Alliance, which aims to share best practice and reciprocal training between the two nations, particularly in the area of cancer care. In this article, from our On Cancer publication, Professor Keith Brennan, Dr F. George Njoroge, and Professor Rob Bristow outline how these […]

Child of the North: The economic impacts of child health

By and Filed Under: Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Levelling up, UK economy Posted:

The economic performance of the North of England consistently lags behind the national average. One factor that could partly explain this ‘productivity gap’ is the poorer physical and mental health of children in the North, along with a widening educational gap, with long-lasting impacts on the labour market. In this blog, Dr Rose Atkins and […]

On productivity and Net Zero

By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Growth and Inclusion, Industry 4.0, OnProductivity, Renewables, Science and Engineering, UK economy Posted:

The UK government has assigned itself with the tasks of boosting productivity in left-behind areas and transitioning to a net-zero economy. In this blog, Professor Jonatan Pinkse explores how the UK can simultaneously improve its standards of productivity regionally while transitioning to a net-zero economy. His policy recommendations include securing green jobs and not using […]

women in the workplace

Gender equality and the productivity agenda

Jill Rubery By Filed Under: Education, Growth and Inclusion, OnProductivity, UK economy Posted:

The implications for gender equality are rarely discussed in the new productivity and levelling up agenda. It is key for productivity and levelling up policy agendas to address the underutilisation of women’s potential and the undervaluation of women’s work. In this blog, Professor Jill Rubery from the Work Equalities Institute investigates the underutilisation of women […]

Woman putting coin in the jar with plant.

How public procurement can influence innovation, productivity and societal challenges

Elvira Uyarra By Filed Under: All posts, Growth and Inclusion, OnProductivity, UK economy Posted:

The public sector is an extremely influential buyer in the market. Through public procurement, the government can influence productivity in various ways. It can develop and scale up productivity-enhancing innovations, and it can reward more innovative suppliers by shaping markets and amplifying innovative practices and technologies. Her applicable policy recommendations focus on improving poignance of […]

The case for a guaranteed basic income pilot in Greater Manchester

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

While the COVID-19 pandemic and current cost of living crisis has exacerbated social inequalities and economic insecurity, it has also opened a window of opportunity to explore new forms of policy innovation to build back a fairer and more economically secure society. In this blog and in a new report for the Work and Equalities […]

Image of a woman interacting with advanced technology

The role of R&D in the levelling up agenda

Richard A.L. Jones headshot By Filed Under: British Politics, Levelling up, OnProductivity, Research and development, UK economy Posted:

Innovation drives productivity, and R&D importantly underpins innovation. Places in the south-east of the UK disproportionately hold the highest rates of public and charitable spending on R&D. In order to mend the geographical imbalances in R&D spending, the way that funding is allocated must be changed. This can be challenging given the patchy nature of […]

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