Read the latest news and information relating to economics and business. We fund research on key economic and business issues.
Research shows little evidence that organisations have begun to work through the implications of an ageing workforce – but employers are helping nobody with silence on retirement.
Migrant entrepreneurs provide vital economic and social assets in deprived urban areas, says a study of four multi-ethnic high streets in deprived and culturally diverse parts of Birmingham, Bristol, Leicester and Manchester.
Start-ups are crucial to the growth of the UK economy, with nearly 600,000 companies established last year – but support is needed to sustain local businesses beyond the start-up phase.
The service sector comprises around 80% of the UK economy, using significant amounts of energy. Research informed the introduction of sustainable practices into the UK’s £6.2 billion hairdressing sector, reducing the carbon footprint of haircare salons.
Research evidence presented to the Supreme Court led to a unanimous ruling that employment tribunal fees of up to £1,200 for claimants, introduced in 2013, were unlawful.
Whether or not a student leaves home to study is strongly influenced by social and ethnic background, affecting career choices and local retention of skills after studies.
Increased investment in national and local infrastructure across the UK is fundamental to increasing productivity and economic growth. There is a pressing need to adopt a broad, integrated approach to infrastructure planning, valuation and engineering.
Stamp duty discourages house moving locally, slowing down the housing market. Replacing it with an annual local tax on the value of land or property could increase housing mobility and provide incentives to local authorities to build more housing and to property owners to use land more efficiently.
Skills in the workforce are crucial for firms’ ability to putinnovative ideas into practice and increase productivity. Focus has traditionally been on high-level skills, but intermediate-skilled technicians and wider workforce skills are also essential.
African governments are once again promoting large plantations and estates, but a study highlights the complex choices and trade-offs of different farming models.
