Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Afshan Iqbal Filed Under: All posts, Work Posted:
Changes in working patterns were accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote and hybrid work arrangements have resulted in expectations on employers to reconsider their business continuity and operational strategies. The impacts of these new working patterns on employees’ physical and mental health are still being explored. In this article, Dr Afshan Iqbal assesses the challenges […]
By Cecilia Wong and Helen Zheng Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment Posted:
Changing social norms and the COVID-19 lockdowns have drastically shifted how we utilise the internet to conduct our daily lives, creating a rapid increase in home/hybrid working and online shopping. In this article, Professor Cecilia Wong and Dr Helen Zheng demonstrate how high quality, reliable and good coverage of telecommunication infrastructure has resulted in differential […]
By Michael Hodson, Andrew McMeekin and Andy Lockhart Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Urban Posted:
Over the last 15 years, digital mobility platforms for ride hailing like Uber, bike sharing like Beryl, e-scooter rental like Lime and journey planning apps like Citymapper have become common in urban societies. They are often seen as ‘disrupting’ the organisation of existing public transport systems and creating competition. In this article from our On […]
By Sam Hind Filed Under: Digital Futures, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology, Urban Posted:
One of the final bills passed by the outgoing Sunak government was the Automated Vehicles Act (2024), designed to make provisions for the possible rollout of autonomous vehicles in the future. If the new Starmer government is to continue this work, then lessons need to be learnt from the US, where the deployment of autonomous […]
By Richard Kingston Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Cities and Environment, Digital Futures, Environment Posted:
The UK government has committed to an ambitious housing strategy of building 1.5 million homes over the next five years to address the chronic housing shortage exacerbated by rising demand, affordability and population growth. This plan must also rectify long-term structural challenges in the housing market whilst ensuring homes are built sustainably. Here, Professor Richard Kingston […]
By Luke Yates 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 […]
By Sarah Lindley Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Digital Futures, Environment Posted:
Historical carbon emissions are already locked into the climate system. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that associated impacts now persist, through extreme weather, climate-related events like floods and wildfires, or longer-term changes to the environment and biosphere. We must give urgent attention to tackling current and future emissions, but it is also vital to ensure […]
By Jonathan Davies, Rose Broad and Amy Benstead Filed Under: All posts, Science and Technology, Work Posted:
Modern slavery and exploitation are critical challenges in the UK garment manufacturing and fast fashion sectors, which continue to require urgent attention from policymakers and regulatory agencies. Despite the potential for digital technology to enhance supply chain transparency, its effectiveness in mitigating labour exploitation is under-researched and underutilised. In this article, Dr Jon Davies, Professor […]
By Alan Davies and Angela Davies Filed Under: All posts, Digital Futures, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:
There has been growing interest regarding the potential of digital transformation to aid the UK’s health and social care system in its ambition to meet modern demands placed upon it. But what skills do different employees in this sector need – and is the infrastructure in place to support them? Here, Dr Alan Davies and […]
By Cecilia Wong and Helen Zheng Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth, Levelling up Posted:
Inequality can be sliced many ways. A key aspect of the UK’s picture on inequality falls starkly along spatial lines of geography. So how can mapping spatial differences make policymaking more effective and targeted? In this article, from our Power in Place publication, Professor Cecilia Wong and Dr Wei Zheng discuss the importance of spatial […]