Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Yaron Matras Filed Under: All posts Posted:
Unless the UK tackles anti-Roma perceptions and prejudice, the exclusion and marginalisation of Roma will continue to thwart any chance of their integration, writes Prof Yaron Matras. Those who follow the situation of Europe’s Roma know that there is never a “dull” week in which we don’t hear of accusations, abuse, or even violence against […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted:
It has been announced that the Treasury is to create a new chief financial officer role for central government. Professor Colin Talbot argues this is simply another impressive-sounding but ill-conceived attempt to quickly fix a complex problem. The coalition’s latest wheeze is to create a new government Chief Financial Officer, similar to the position found […]
By Julia Segar Filed Under: Featured Posted:
The major reforms stemming from the Health and Social Care Act 2012 have permeated Saturday night television, writes Dr Julia Segar. But while Clinical Commissioning Groups may have made it onto BBC One’s Casualty, a recent storyline misrepresented their ability to hold A&E departments to account; although given the complexity of the new system, this is perhaps […]
By Cameron Roberts Filed Under: Featured Posted:
National bogeyman Dr Richard Beeching is not an obvious figure to turn to for inspiration, amid the white heat of the HS2 debate. But, writes Cameron Roberts, when it comes to the claims and counter-claims over cost-benefit estimates, his legacy warns us not to focus too narrowly on the economics. Complaining, as Colin Cram did […]
By Juanjo Medina and Jon Shute Filed Under: Featured Posted:
Last week the government claimed it was succeeding in stamping out gangs and gang culture, in a review of current Home Office policy. But if you scratch below the rhetoric, argue Jon Shute and Juanjo Medina, you will find these claims are based on evaluation methods barely worthy of an undergraduate thesis. Let us be […]
By Dave Richards and Martin Smith Filed Under: Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted:
Relationships between civil servants and ministers have become increasingly antagonistic, write Professors David Richards and Martin Smith. With incoherent reforms to the policy process and confusion over where accountability lies, there is a pressing need for reform – and for someone to lead it. The current imbroglio surrounding the Universal Credit scheme appears to […]
By Ferdi De Ville and Gabriel Siles-Brügge Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted:
On Monday the latest round of talks on the EU-US free trade agreement get underway. Gabriel Siles-Brügge and Ferdi De Ville challenge the proclaimed benefits of this much-vaunted deal. Rather than represent ‘the cheapest stimulus package you can imagine’, they argue the deal is a distraction that is unlikely to significantly boost growth. ‘This is […]
By Rob Ford Filed Under: Featured, Polling Observatory Posted:
This blog post, by Dr Robert Ford, Dr Will Jennings and Dr Mark Pickup, is the thiry-first in a series that report on the state of the parties as measured by opinion polls. Manchester Policy Blogs will be posting Polling Observatory updates on a regular basis, alongside the well-established Ballots and Bullets blog. A more detailed […]
By Ian Crowther Filed Under: Featured Posted:
The European Central Bank met this week to begin debating a European-wide bank crisis plan. But if we are to avoid further systemic issues in banking, it is the whole structure that needs to be addressed, argues Ian Crowther. We are in danger of learning nothing from the financial crisis, with bankers, policymakers and regulators […]
By Justice Bawole Filed Under: All posts Posted:
Microcredit and International Development: Contexts, Achievements and Challenges. Edited by Farhad Hossain, Christopher Rees and Tonya Knight Millar. Routledge, 2011. Microfinance services have played important roles in the development of small and medium scale enterprises, writes Dr Justice Nyigmah Bawole. This title deals with contemporary experiences in the microfinance industry – and while it omits […]