RSS Evidence briefings

Knowledge Synthesis Grants Competition Evidence Briefs

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 14:00:00 GMT

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.

Funding a low-carbon energy system

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 23:00:00 GMT

There is widespread public support for transition to a low-carbon energy system, but it requires trust in commitment and transparency from energy companies and government.

House prices push old and young into separate neighbourhoods

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Multiple chronic conditions: an emerging healthcare challenge

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 11:30:00 GMT

Over the next 20 years the number of people with two or more chronic conditions will almost double to nearly 10 million, increasing the demands on health and social care services. Multiple illnesses need to be given higher priority in healthcare planning and funding.

Integration and skills support for Syrian refugees

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 23:00:00 GMT

Young Syrian refugees in the UK have relatively high levels of skills and training, but many remain unemployed or over-qualified for the jobs they acquire. Targeted intervention is needed to integrate Syrian refugees and benefit from their skills contribution in society.

Trade after Brexit: what's on the table?

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 23:00:00 GMT

Bespoke customs union, the Chequers proposal, a Canada deal, association agreement or no deal: An at-a-glance overview of the different options and their likely impact.

Supporting start-ups and local business

Mon, 23 Jul 2018 13:45:00 GMT

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.

Female employment and child inequality

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 23:00:00 GMT

Research evidence shows that changes in female employment have helped to mitigate the trend of rising income inequality, but in families where the mother is the sole breadwinner the risk of poverty is high.

Impact of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 23:00:00 GMT

The Soft Drinks Industry Levy was implemented in April 2018 as a response to concerns about rising childhood and teenage obesity. Will the levy lead to the anticipated outcomes of reduced sugar consumption and improved health, or will it have unintended consequences?

Student mobility and local economy

Tue, 29 May 2018 23:00:00 GMT

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.

Smart cities and sustainability

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 10:30:00 GMT

Cities worldwide are increasingly embedding smart technology to gather and analyse data, with global 'smart city' revenue expected to grow to $88.7 billion by 2025. Smart cities have a huge potential for improving sustainability, but are currently limited by market-focused economic models.

Delivering effective and inclusive infrastructure

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 23:00:00 GMT

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 impact on the housing market

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Sustainable Care: Sustainability and wellbeing in our care system

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Sustainable Care Research Programme, based at the University of Sheffield, is investigating how social care arrangements can be made sustainable. The new programme is focusing on the care needs of adults living at home with chronic health problems or disabilities.

Workforce skills at all levels boost innovation and productivity

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

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.

The CaCHE centre: providing research evidence for housing policy and practice

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) is a multidisciplinary consortium of 13 partners, led by the University of Glasgow and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Providing a legal identity with digital data

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 16:00:00 GMT

A personal legal identity is crucial for accessing benefits and services, and is seen as a key driver for prosperity in developing countries. A digital identification system based on behavioural data can provide a legal identity for people in underdeveloped countries.

Attracting international students to the UK

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

International students are a key source of funding for UK universities and are beneficial for the wider economy, with a government estimate of over £5 billion in income excluding tuition fees. Declining student numbers could be reversed with targeted policies.

ESRC-NIHR Living well with dementia initiative

Wed, 01 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Economic and Social Research Council and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) jointly fund a £20 million dementia social science research initiative on interventions and care – the world's largest social science research programme on dementia and care.

The hotspots of British industry

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The uneven spread of industry across Britain limits productivity and innovation in low-performing areas, with London productivity 32% higher than the UK average in 2015. A new analysis highlights patterns of industry distribution and business performance across the country.