Resolution Foundation Podcasts

Materials matter. They have been critical in shaping the path of human history, from the innovations we create to the relationships between nations. This has always been true from iron in the 19th Century to lithium that powers our smartphones today. But changing international dynamics – driven by shifting geopolitics, the recent energy crisis and the net zero transition – have the potential to put access to materials at the forefront of economics, politics and international relations. In his new book – Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future – Ed Conway examines how six key substances have built our world, have the potential to transform our future, and the risks that reliance on these resources pose. To mark the launch of the book, the Resolution Foundation is hosting a book launch at its Westminster office, as part of The Economy 2030 Inquiry, funded by the Nuffield Foundation. The panel will discuss how we can balance our need for these resources with tackling climate change and managin

Brexit was a seismic break for the UK, not least in bringing to a close a decades long trade strategy focused on integration with European markets. Since then the Government has successfully rushed to sign as many trade agreements as possible, but these largely roll over arrangements inherited from EU membership, with little prospect of further significant trading ties. It is far from clear what comes next — what a lasting post-Brexit trade strategy for the UK might be that recognises both our economy’s strengths and the wider global trade landscape, where geopolitics is playing an increasing role. What are the priorities for the UK’s trade strategy now that the heat of Brexit negotiations have cooled, but global trade tensions are heating up? How should that strategy be integrated into a wider economic strategy for Britain? Which balance should be struck between a European or global focus? And can Britain protect manufacturing industries such as automotives, which are highly integrated into European supply c

Technological innovations – from new agricultural machinery to industrialisation and the invention of the computer – have powered economic progress over the past 1,000 years. But technological leaps do not automatically lead to living standards improvements, and can instead cause economic disruption and pose threats to workers. As we stand on the precipice of a possible AI revolution, and desperately need a step change in our economic growth prospects, what can we learn from history about how to ensure that the next wave of technological progress feeds through into better living standards and higher wellbeing for citizens? A ground-breaking new book – Power and Progress: Our Thousand-year Struggle over Technology and Prosperity by leading academics and authors Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson – answers this critical question through an examination of previous chapters of technological change. The authors set out what this experience suggests for today’s policy makers and citizens as they grapple with the impl

The UK is decarbonising its stock of cars quicker than most people expected – last year there were over a million Electric Vehicles (EVs) on our roads. This is great news for both people and the planet, as EVs are cheaper and cleaner to drive. But this transition presents challenges too – not least to the £32 billion of annual tax revenue collected from vehicles. How can policy makers encourage the switch to EVs in a way that doesn’t land the Treasury with a fiscal hole, or low and middle income families with unfair tax bills? Are there tensions between decarbonising and decongesting our roads? And how can we build political support for vital – but contentious – reforms to road taxation? The Resolution Foundation is hosting an in-person and interactive webinar – as part of The Economy 2030 Inquiry, funded by the Nuffield Foundation – to debate and answer these questions. Following a presentation of highlights from major new research on reforming road taxation, we will hear from leading experts on how to make

In a services-based economy like Britain, its cities should be leading its economic growth. But in fact England’s major cities outside London are actually less productive than the national average, and many have struggled to adjust to our post-industrial landscape. This is a common challenge for many cities in western economies. But while some cities have been left behind, others – from Lille to Dortmund, Bilbao to Pittsburgh – have turned around their economies and forged ahead. How have industrial cities around the world successfully responded to major economic change and disruption? What policy lessons are there for cities across Britain? And what role should cities play in a new economic strategy for Britain? The Resolution Foundation is hosting an in-person and interactive webinar – as part of The Economy 2030 Inquiry, funded by the Nuffield Foundation – to debate and answer these questions. Following a presentation of the key highlights from a new Navigating Economic Change essay on eight turnaround cit

Book launch event for We Need to Talk About Inflation by Stephen King From investors and academics, to governments and central banks, almost everyone had assumed high and persistent inflation was dead and buried. But with inflation having soared to double-digits, people the world over are confronting a new economic reality of surging prices. Reflecting on six key lessons from across the history of inflation, Stephen King’s new book We Need to Talk About Inflation examines the political and social upheaval it can cause and proposes ways for policymakers to avoid repeating the failures of the past. What are the causes of today’s inflation surge? How worried should consumers and policymakers be about persistently high inflation? And how should fiscal and monetary policy makers respond? To mark the launch of Stephen King’s new book, the Resolution Foundation is hosting a launch at its Westminster office. Stephen will be joined by leading macroeconomic expert Silvia Ardagna for a discussion on the outlook for infl

The UK’s cost-of-living crunch has entered its second year. While inflation should fall significantly in the coming months, the crisis is far from over. Prices are rising more slowly rather than falling. And the significant government support provided last year is being scaled back, while fast rising interest rates will affect more and more homeowners in the months ahead. Many people have used savings or support from friends and family to cope with the crisis so far – but this support is finite. How is the cost-of-living crisis evolving as it enters its second year? How is the squeeze playing out across different families and generations? And what should policy makers be looking out for in the months ahead? The Resolution Foundation is hosting an in-person and interactive webinar to debate and answer these questions. Following a presentation of the key highlights from our latest cost-of-living survey – supported by the Health Foundation – we will hear from leading experts on how the cost-of-living crisis has

Keynote speech by Angela Rayner MP, followed by Q&A with Resolution Foundation Chief Executive Torsten Bell. Debates about raising, or indeed cutting, legal protections for workers are a staple of British politics – with welcome progress including a rising minimum wage driving down low pay. But too often the reality that these rights, rates and rules mean little if they aren’t enforced is forgotten. The systems used to enforce workers’ rights are often fragmented and underfunded, making it harder to identify breaches and deter poor behaviour. It is still far too easy for bad employers to undercut good employers by ducking minimum legal standards. And our focus on individuals to enforce their own rights brings challenges when those most at risk from rights violations are the least likely to report it. The UK needs a new approach to better protect workers and enforce their rights, informed by our own experience but also that of other countries. To what extent do UK firms comply with workers’ rights? How are

Speakers include: Patricia Rice, Low Pay Commissioner; Matt Warman MP, Co-chair of the APPG on the Future of Work; John Kelly, Irish Workplace Relations; Lindsay Judge, Research Director at the Resolution Foundation; and Torsten Bell, Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation. Debates about raising, or indeed cutting, legal protections for workers are a staple of British politics – with welcome progress including a rising minimum wage driving down low pay. But too often the reality that these rights, rates and rules mean little if they aren’t enforced is forgotten. The systems used to enforce workers’ rights are often fragmented and underfunded, making it harder to identify breaches and deter poor behaviour. It is still far too easy for bad employers to undercut good employers by ducking minimum legal standards. And our focus on individuals to enforce their own rights brings challenges when those most at risk from rights violations are the least likely to report it. The UK needs a new approach to better pr

Speakers include: Kate Roberts, Head of Policy at FLEX; Kate Shoesmith, Deputy CEO of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation; Alan Bogg, Old Square Chambers; Hannah Slaughter, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation; and Torsten Bell, Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation. Debates about raising, or indeed cutting, legal protections for workers are a staple of British politics – with welcome progress including a rising minimum wage driving down low pay. But too often the reality that these rights, rates and rules mean little if they aren’t enforced is forgotten. The systems used to enforce workers’ rights are often fragmented and underfunded, making it harder to identify breaches and deter poor behaviour. It is still far too easy for bad employers to undercut good employers by ducking minimum legal standards. And our focus on individuals to enforce their own rights brings challenges when those most at risk from rights violations are the least likely to report it. The UK needs a new approach

The minimum wage has more than halved the share of low paid workers across Britain over the past two decades. This is a huge success – but it is far from job done. While low-paid workers today earn more, they are too often trapped on short-hours, facing poor working conditions or lacking the advantages higher earners take for granted – from sick pay to control over when they work. Too many jobs are seen as low status, even when they are highly valued. Good work should be a core objective of a renewed economic strategy for the UK – but it will require a new policy agenda, going far beyond the minimum wage, to achieve it. This will bring trade-offs that need to be confronted not wished away: better jobs for some will mean higher prices for others. How much higher can the minimum wage go? What are the top priorities for wider improvements in the quality of work? Who will win, and who will lose, from efforts to spread good work? And what wider changes might a radical strategy to improve the quality of lower paid

The political context in which people grow up can play a hugely influential role in how that age cohort participate in democracy. From the dominance of different political parties and prevalence of strikes and protests, to the distribution of information and ideas through social media, the society people are raised in affects the ways in which they interact with politicians and political ideas. Maintaining an informed and engaged electorate in the decades to come requires grappling with these historical shifts and their implications for democratic governance. Does the historical context of when a generation comes of age affect their political engagement? Are older generations, for example, who came of age in a period when elections were fundamental to the existence of democratic government, more likely to engage with political parties? What about younger generations coming of age in the historical moments that followed? And what can this tell us about how democratic governance and political participation coul

The UK has been under-investing for decades. British business isn’t keen on investing, and the public sector if anything does even worse. Public investment is not only low by international standards, it’s very volatile. Politicians like to announce investment rises, but Chancellor’s also like to cut it when they need to make the fiscal arithmetic add up. Scrapping a bridge tomorrow is always easier than firing a nurse or raising taxes today. But sustained low investment has left us poorer and affected our lives in everything from the healthcare we receive to the homes we live in. Turning this situation around requires radical change to how do such investment, but investing to grow also comes with risks that need to be managed. Why do British governments invest so little? How can we snap out of the cycle of public investment boom and bust? And what would it take to invest better, as well as more? The Resolution Foundation is hosting an in-person and interactive webinar – as part of The Economy 2030 Inquiry, fu

The United Kingdom is facing a decisive decade of huge economic change, from restructuring after Brexit and the pandemic, to urgently transitioning towards a net zero future, and adapting to technological shifts amid an ageing population. But it is doing that against a backdrop of low growth and high inequality, a toxic combination that leaves low- and middle-income households dangerously exposed to today’s cost of living crisis. South Yorkshire’s many strengths – including world-class universities in Sheffield and service sector firms across the region – must be harnessed to manage the economic changes of the 2020s well. But to really thrive, the region will need to find ways to ensure that everyone benefits from growth and investment. What role can economic strategies – national and local – play in responding to the challenges of the 2020s, to secure higher growth and lower inequality? How will the changes to come affect the jobs we do, the places we live and the businesses we work for? And what are the pro

The UK has gone through four Chancellors, three Prime Ministers and entered a cost-of-living crisis in 500 days since the last Budget way back in October 2021. On 15 March, Jeremy Hunt will unveil his first Budget, hoping to signpost the UK economy’s way towards a new, calmer, phase of lower inflation and higher growth. To that end, concrete steps to encourage people to remain in the workforce and firms to invest will be up in lights. Recent months have brought good news for the public finances, but the public face the prospect of rising energy bills and inflation that will continue to outstrip wage growth for some time to come. How has recent good news, from falling European gas prices to lower than expected borrowing, fed through into permanent improvements to the economic and fiscal outlook? Where does Budget 2023 leave the cost-of-living crisis families are facing, including rising energy bills and widespread industrial strife across the public sector? Will the policies announced help to boost employment

Speech by MPC member Swati Dhingra Britain has been buffeted by many different economic shocks in recent decades, but the most recent is a huge terms of trade deterioration following a spike in energy prices and disruption to global supply chains in the wake of the pandemic. This has given the UK the highest inflation in 40 years and prompted a cost-of-living crisis for British households. How should policy makers think about the damaging impact of inflation on families and firms, responding without deepening any resulting economic downturn? And what are the trade-offs that monetary policy makers face in addressing the exceptional cost-of-living crisis that Britain is living through now? To debate and answer these questions, the Resolution Foundation is hosting the first public discussion from Bank of England MPC member Dr. Swati Dhingra, as part of The Economy 2030 Inquiry with the LSE, funded by the Nuffield Foundation. Following a short presentation, Swati will take part in an audience Q&A, chaired by

2022 marked a tough year, with soaring inflation sparking a cost-of-living crisis and repeated government announcements to tackle it. And that was before the Autumn economic policy chaos. The economics and politics are now calmer. Inflation – and most importantly gas prices – is falling, and the Chancellor hopes to deliver a more ‘normal’ Budget against this backdrop on 15th March. But it may not feel like the good times have arrived for households, with energy bills set to rise in April and the country living with the impact of 15 years of relative economic decline. How ‘normal’ will Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget be after the very abnormal Autumn? Has the economic and fiscal outlook changed significantly as gas prices have fallen back? What else will the Chancellor do to protect households from the continuing cost-of-living crisis? And can the Chancellor address some of the big challenges facing the UK, from recent rises in labour market inactivity to the longer lasting growth slowdown? In the week ahead of th

Central bankers around the world have been busy raising interest rates from their historical lows in the face of mounting inflation, with the Bank of England raising the base rate at their last ten MPC meetings. But the big question for policy makers is not just what the impact of those rate rises has been, but what it will be. That lies behind the difficult judgement about whether enough has been done to bring inflation back down to target, which has big implications for living standards and the wider economy. How big and how swift will the impact of interest rate rises be? Has the long duration of near zero bank rates, along with the recent shocks, changed the received wisdom that rates take 18-24 months to have their full effect?  And, if a slower transmission means a longer period of above target inflation, does this affect inflation expectations? The Resolution Foundation is hosting a major speech from Bank of England MPC member Dr. Catherine L Mann to debate and answer these questions. Following her spe

Fast rising participation in the workforce was an important driver of growth in the 2010s, helping to offset the impacts of a productivity and wage stagnation. But that progress has gone into reverse in the wake of the pandemic, with older workers in particular exiting the workforce, prompting the government to launch a major review. This trend brings challenges for the economy and public finances, though for individuals and families the story is far more nuanced. There are ‘good’ and ‘bad’ reasons to stop working. Who is exiting the workforce, and why are they doing so now? Is this a temporary post-pandemic blip or a sign of things to come as Britain’s population ages rapidly in the 2020s? How much should government focus on bringing people back into the labour market who dropped out during the pandemic? Or should it focus its efforts instead on groups – such as mothers, and people with disabilities – who have always been under-represented in the workforce? The Resolution Foundation is hosting an in-person a

Recent decades have not been kind to liberal democracy. Growth has slowed, inequality risen. Powerful voices argue that capitalism is better without democracy, while others argue that democracy is better without capitalism. But despite the travails of democratic capitalism this system brings substantial benefits. Turning the tide on populism requires both reflecting on these advantages and facing up to its failings. What are the benefits of combining democracy and capitalism? Why have other systems become increasingly popular in recent years? Could a divorce between the two solve the problems we face? Or how can the tension-fuelled marriage between the two successfully endure? The Resolution Foundation is hosting an event to mark the publication of The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism by Martin Wolf, as part of The Economy 2030 Inquiry, funded by the Nuffield Foundation. Joining Martin to debate our economic and political future will be leading expert on the global economy, Professor Ngaire Woods. Watch the ev