Economy and business

Collection of evidence briefs highlight some of the research findings from the Knowledge Synthesis Grants (KSG) holder’s final synthesis reports and their relevance in key policy areas related to future Canada-UK trade relationships. The briefs also help grant holders engage with their non-academic partners and effectively share information about their projects with policy-makers and the wider public.

As part of the ESRC’s Transforming Productivity Research priority, expressions of interest are being invited from researchers at eligible research organisations to develop bids for a productivity institute.

The urban boom in Cambodia's Phnom Penh is literally built on 'blood bricks' – an industry relying on a form of modern slavery, with a multigenerational workforce of adults and children trapped in debt bondage.

The 'go_girl: code+create' project, supported by ESRC Impact Acceleration Account funding, is helping disadvantaged girls into tech careers – the participants create video stories of successful women and publish on a mobile app they code themselves.

Nearly 35% of the workforce in India’s tech sector are women, compared to less than 18% in the UK. Research stimulated tech industry engagement, launching a national Indian scorecard and informing a UK strategy for diversity in the tech sector.

Age segregation in housing has increased in recent decades, with less likelihood of older and younger adults sharing the same residential area. New research shows that age segregation is higher in areas where housing is least affordable, potentially challenging social cohesion.

Research shows that upgrading footpaths to tracks can benefit rural and marginalised communities in Liberia, by opening the areas to motorcycle taxi services – drastically reducing transport times and boosting trade.

Workers in Britain are working harder and have less say, but are less anxious about losing their job or having their job changed in some way, according to the findings from the latest Skills and Employment Survey.

The significance of home-based businesses for entrepreneurship in cities is underestimated, and their needs largely ignored by policymakers, suggest researchers.

Flexible working is not necessarily helping workers to relieve their work-family conflict, suggests a recent report into work autonomy, flexibility and work-life balance across Europe. Workers may end up working longer hours, or worry about work when not working.