infrastructure

Transport can be the driver for the Northern Powerhouse

By Graham Winch Filed Under: Devo, Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted: April 24, 2015

The outgoing coalition government launched the Northern Transport Strategy just days before the start of the General Election campaign – surely no coincidence. Professor Graham Winch looks beyond the short-term politics to explain why the outlined investment is worth it. The just published Northern Transport Strategy aims to use better transport links in Northern England […]

How the high cost of PFI has added to the deficit

By Anne Stafford Filed Under: Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted: April 21, 2015

The debate on the deficit has been dominated by the cost of bailing-out the banks and the affordability of the welfare state. The impact of expensive PFI contracts should not be overlooked, explains Dr Anne Stafford. No matter who wins the General Election, the next government will have to deal with the growing cost of […]

The great pension rip-off

By John Read Filed Under: Featured Posted: April 13, 2015

Workers and employers pay a fortune into pension schemes. Yet they put up with a system that delivers very poor value for money, explains John Read. Pension schemes face serious challenges – an ageing society and poor investment returns following the ‘Great Recession’ are just two of them. In short, pension systems have not moved […]

Why devolution is good for the economy

By Diane Coyle Filed Under: Devo, Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted: March 2, 2015

The case for the devolution of power away from London has centred on the political arguments. Professor Diane Coyle looks at the economic reasons. The context for the devolutionary tide in politics – to the nations and within England to the north and especially Greater Manchester – is that the United Kingdom has long been […]

A Grand Plan for the North needs to start with dreams

By Ed Cox Filed Under: Featured, Urban Posted: July 18, 2014

With growing calls for the UK to reverse an historic trend of chronic under investment in infrastructure, IPPR North’s Ed Cox believes it’s time to seek out the best and the brightest big ideas. The UK has “chronically underinvested in infrastructure, trailing that of other leading global economies.” That was the damning verdict of the RSA’s City […]

Axeman Beeching’s myopia is cautionary lesson for HS2 policymakers

By Cameron Roberts Filed Under: Featured Posted: December 17, 2013

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 […]

Innovation in the water industry: Is the price too high?

By Andrew Balmer Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: October 30, 2013

While the recent hike in energy prices has made headlines, issues around the UK water supply get rather less attention. Breaching the UK’s impregnable ‘innovation barrier’ – to fix leaking pipes and tackle climate change – is one big challenge, writes Dr Andrew Balmer. Another is to prompt policymakers to be brave enough to ensure […]

Transport can be the driver for the Northern Powerhouse

How the high cost of PFI has added to the deficit

The great pension rip-off

Why devolution is good for the economy

A Grand Plan for the North needs to start with dreams

Axeman Beeching’s myopia is cautionary lesson for HS2 policymakers

Innovation in the water industry: Is the price too high?

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