Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Jessica Roccard Filed Under: Featured, Urban Posted:
Across much of the global South, urban centres are expanding as new informal suburbs are created. Those informal communities generate challenges for both their own populations and the authorities, explains Dr Jessica Roccard. Urbanisation was one of the most substantial and revolutionary social forces of the 20th Century. It continues to transform the global South. […]
By Steve Furber Filed Under: All posts, Europe, Featured Posted:
As data protection becomes a hot topic again with the publication of the ‘A Question of Trust‘ report, Professor Steve Furber asks if we should be worried. I have always assumed that government security agencies – GCHQ, NSA, etc – can snoop on what they like, when they like, and that this is in the interests […]
The top UK firms need more leadership from government to close the ethnic diversity gap, argues Ken Clark. Ethnic disadvantage in the labour market has been well documented in recent years. In the UK, as in many other countries, some non-white groups face restricted access to employment and suffer lower wages when in jobs. These […]
By Steven Jones Filed Under: Ethnicity, Featured Posted:
Your likelihood of being offered a place at a Russell Group university may be related to your ethnicity, explains Steven Jones. Here is an excerpt from a UCAS personal statement written recently by an applicant to a Russell Group university: “There are various times where I have been a team member such as in hockey, […]
By Anilena Mejia Filed Under: Featured Posted:
Violent crime, particularly related to drug trafficking, is one of the world’s major causes of death. Anilena Mejia suggests parenting training may be effective in reducing crime and violence. Crime is the main cause of death in many countries. In Guatemala City, it is estimated that 116 people in every 100,000 are murdered each year. […]
By Oscar Flórez-Vargas and Michael Bramhall Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted:
It is essential that scientific research findings can be reproduced independently. But, warn Oscar Flórez-Vargas and Michael Bramhall, this is often not possible. The potential for the development of new treatments for diseases is being damaged by scientific research papers that are providing insufficient, and sometimes misleading, information. The incidence of these reporting weaknesses is […]
By Stefan Bouzarovski and Saska Petrova Filed Under: Europe, Featured, Science and Technology, Urban Posted:
The EU’s new ‘Energy Union’ does not go far enough in reshaping our demand for energy, argue Professor Stefan Bouzarovski and Dr Saska Petrova. One of the ten stated priorities of the new European Commission has been the establishment of an ‘Energy Union’ – a common policy umbrella that will, says the EU, ensure “secure, […]
By Brenda Gannon Filed Under: Featured, Westminster Watch Posted:
Increased provision of free childcare will not only help to lift the UK’s productivity, it will also raise household incomes – potentially improving health outcomes for children, explains Dr Brenda Gannon. Currently, all children aged three or four are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks. In last week’s Queen’s […]
By Nick Clifford Filed Under: Featured Posted:
After crying ‘wolf’ for several years, councils are now faced with very real difficulty in balancing their books, warns Nick Clifford. More than 50 years ago, in 1962, there was a hit for Lonnie Donegan called ‘The Party’s Over’. 40 years ago Tony Crosland, then Secretary of State for Local Government, gave a speech to […]
By Paul Wilson Filed Under: Featured Posted:
Social prescriptions have been hailed as a wonderful way of improving health outcomes, at low cost. But Paul Wilson argues that we need less rhetoric and more sound research to evaluate project results. The Queen’s Speech has seen the new government reconfirm commitments to make an extra £8bn of funding available to the NHS. But […]
