inclusive growth

How public procurement can influence innovation, productivity and societal challenges

By Elvira Uyarra Filed Under: All posts, Growth and Inclusion, OnProductivity, UK economy Posted: August 9, 2022

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 Anthony Rafferty and Alex Macdougall Filed Under: All posts, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth, UK economy Posted: July 27, 2022

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 […]

Creativity, industry and devolved responsibility: how local industrial strategies can support levelling up

By Abigail Gilmore Filed Under: All posts, Growth and Inclusion, Levelling up Posted: July 21, 2022

Local creative and cultural industries strategies can play a key role in devolution policy, and understanding the differences and nuances of local industrial strategies helps inform policymakers looking at cultural and creative industries-led ‘levelling up’. Ultimately, policy should be shaped by local strategy and regional identity as much as national goals. This blog raises policy […]

LGBT+ inequalities in adolescent wellbeing

By Neil Humphrey Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Growth and Inclusion Posted: June 21, 2022

Improving wellbeing in every area of the UK is the overarching ambition of the Levelling Up White Paper, and government has said it will undertake further work to supplement existing wellbeing data at a subnational level. In Greater Manchester, a community-led, hyper-local project is underway to understand and improve children and young people’s wellbeing, and […]

Greater Manchester economy: response to crises

By Marianne Sensier Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Devo, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth Posted: March 28, 2022

The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on the inequalities in our society. Those in comfortable jobs have largely been able to work remotely from home. Those in precarious sectors and occupations have lost the most, particularly in deprived communities. The tighter restrictions imposed on Greater Manchester since the easing of the first lockdown in […]

The digital economy could be more productive – but will it be more inclusive?

By Bart van Ark Filed Under: All posts, Digital Futures, Growth and Inclusion Posted: January 6, 2022

Digital technology can help people to remain productive despite disruptions to daily life. However, this is only possible when people are able to access and use the technology that is available to them. Here, Professor Bart van Ark from The Productivity Institute warns of the dangers of a K-shaped recovery and lists the steps that […]

The north-west’s productivity crisis: Causes, challenges and solutions

By Kieron Flanagan Filed Under: All posts, Growth and Inclusion Posted: November 29, 2021

The north-west has a long-term productivity problem, with the productivity gap widening over the past 15 years. But there is much that policymakers can do. In this blog, Professor Kieron Flanagan from the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research reflects on findings from the newly released North-West Productivity Forum Green Paper, on the causes of the […]

Rewriting the creative sector’s digital transformation

By Anita Greenhill Filed Under: All posts, Digital Futures, Education, Inclusive Growth Posted: September 1, 2021

The creative sector is incredibly diverse and there are growing disparities between those who are already familiar with the digital world of work and those who are struggling to adapt. In this blog, Dr Anita Greenhill addresses the challenges that the sector will face in the coming years and provides examples of best practice from […]

Why the success of a green recovery requires engaging with – and learning from – minority communities

By Sherilyn MacGregor and Nafhesa Ali Filed Under: All posts, Ethnicity, Inclusive Growth, Urban Posted: April 21, 2021

Although the UK has world-leading net zero targets, simply setting the target is not enough. Achieving it requires the participation of all sectors of society. However, racialized minority communities are underrepresented in mainstream approaches to achieving environmental sustainability. To redress this marginalization, Dr Sherilyn MacGregor and Dr Nafhesa Ali from the Sustainable Consumption Institute explain […]

The Levelling-up Budget?

By Marianne Sensier Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Budget, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth, News Posted: March 4, 2021

The Conservative Government’s 2019 general election manifesto included a promise to ‘listen to the people who have felt left behind’. There was also a commitment in the Budget 2020 to drive economic growth sustainably and improve living standards by boosting productivity and levelling up skills across the UK, along with future commitments to increase investment […]