It’s Time for Workers on Boards
In an era of slow wage growth, precarious contracts and the looming shadow of Brexit, workers need more voice in the workplace. In 2024, this was recognised by prime minister…
Universal Basic Income in a Post-Virus Britain
A basic income floor would help define our society in the post-coronavirus era, writes economist Stewart Lansley With livelihoods shattered and household incomes heading for unprecedented falls, attention needs to…
This is why junior doctors are protesting
On Saturday 20,000 doctors, nurses and patients marched across London to Parliament Square. The junior doctors’ contract reforms have caused concern throughout the profession. The hardest working junior doctors in…
Making the UK a Good Place to Work: Why We Still Need Collective Bargaining
Last week saw the publication of Understanding Society’s Insights 2025 report, which includes new evidence on low pay and work using findings from the UK Household Longitudinal Study. It provides…
The significance of Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century
Thomas Piketty’s recent book Capital in the Twenty-First Century has captured the popular imagination in a way very few economics books – and almost none that are 700 pages long…
NHS in Turmoil: Relax Immigration Rules for Healthcare Staff
The Brexit soundbite coupled with promises to patch up the NHS with cash and fresh new staff arguably was the golden ticket that won the Conservative Party a majority in…
Why we need rent control
On the issue of rent control people tend to slip from maths and economics to ideology without realising they are doing it. Otherwise-respected economists are so wedded to free markets…
Brexit induced xenophobia and racism: how bad is it and what needs to be done?
Xenophobia and racism isn’t new and was very much an issue to be tackled before the EU referendum, but with the spike in street harassment and hate crimes post Brexit…
Close Tax Loopholes for the Rich and Powerful
There are few things that anger the public more than the rich and powerful dodging taxes the rest of us have no choice but to pay. The release of the…
Government U-turns on Trade Union Bill as peers threaten rebellion
The passage of the Trade Union Bill has certainly been a stormy one, with a triple whammy of defeats for the government at Report Stage in the House of Lords.…
How can we reduce the need for food banks?
“Why is it that in countries that have welfare states offering a minimum income has hunger reappeared?” asks ‘Feeding Britain,’ the final report of the All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Hunger…