This hub showcases research and insights from the social sciences to offer informed perspectives on how the UK might best address its challenges around growth and productivity – but also how this should be balanced against other competing policy priorities. 

Since the financial crisis of 2007-2009, the UK’s economic growth has been slow, with the nation languishing in the lower half of the OECD rankings on productivity. The UK also has high levels of inequality in terms of wealth, income and opportunity when compared to its OECD peers. These challenges are in many ways linked, but tackling them is no straightforward task.

So, what sort of growth might we want in the UK – and where, how, and for whom? Are there ways that the UK can achieve growth that is fair, inclusive, carefully targeted, and environmentally sustainable? This hub foregrounds research-based ideas on how the UK might achieve ‘good growth’.

Taking "mission-oriented" growth seriously: advice for the UK Government

Professor Mariana MazzucatoFAcSS

How to address inequalities as part of ‘good growth’

Professor Bobby Duffy FAcSS, Professor Heejung Chung, Professor Matthew Johnson FAcSS, Paul Johnson FAcSS & Professor Katherine Smith FAcSS

Crafting an economy that works for everyone

Will Snell FAcSS

Wealth inequality and growth in the UK

Read our briefing

Earlier this year we convened an expert roundtable with the Fairness Foundation to discuss the evidence base for the relationship between wealth inequality and economic growth in the UK, and to consider the most effective policy responses. Read our short briefing which summarises the discussion and outlines the potential policy responses which could help to tackle the barriers to growth that result from wealth inequality.