A new report by the Academy of Social Sciences showcases a breadth of social science-based research, ideas and evidence relevant to addressing some of the country’s political and social challenges, many of which are relevant to the UK Government’s policy agenda.
With their understanding of our society, economy, civic culture, places and behaviours, the UK’s social scientists – in universities and the wider worlds of practice, including in national and local government – are uniquely well-placed to help tackle the social and economic challenges facing the new government.
The new report, ‘Beyond the ballot: social science insights on eight key policy challenges’, showcases the research-led insights of over 100 leading social scientists on policy-applicable areas. Covering aspects of health & social care, inequalities & welfare, housing, macroeconomics, regional equity & growth, borders & migration, knowledge & technology, and energy & climate, these evidence-based contributions draw on a wide range of social science methodologies and underline the great potential of social science research, from across a very wide range of disciplines, to help shape policy and practice.
Although the report does not make specific policy recommendations, albeit many individual contributions and the included case studies do put forward evidence-based proposals, it documents five overarching areas of consensus, based on the contributions of experts, for improving the intersections of evidence, practice and policy, for the UK Government to consider:
- In setting cross-cutting missions, the UK Government will benefit from policymaking processes and infrastructures which incorporate a broad range of evidence in ways that are transparent and robust.
- The new UK Government would benefit from a more joined-up approach to policymaking.
- Greater attention to the evidence base underpinning controversial and contentious policy areas could lead to calmer and more reasoned deliberation.
- There is still significant scope for policy innovation by drawing on successful practice from the devolved nations and regions.
- Policy development and discourse should include adequate space and time for social and societal elements to be fully explored.
Will Hutton FAcSS, President of the Academy of Social Sciences, said, “In the run up to, and aftermath of, the 2024 UK General Election, it was, and remains, clear that Britain stands at a crossroads. Although there are grounds for hope with some parts of our economic and social performance, more needs to be done to address the growing inequalities in our society. Against a backdrop of social and economic challenges, social science and social scientists are needed more than ever, and their evidence-led insights, as can be seen from this report, have the potential to devise better solutions to the varied challenges facing society today.”
Dr Ed Bridges, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the Academy of Social Sciences and lead author of the report, said, “This report signals the start of a really important conversation with policymakers about how insights from the social sciences can help improve the lives of citizens. The report covers a spectrum of topics, including how to achieve inclusive economic growth, how to provide ethical and regulatory AI frameworks to improve public trust, how to engage the public effectively on climate change, how social care systems in the four UK nations might learn from each other, and more. All of these contributions deserve to be prompts for discussion as the UK Government grapples with such issues. But, perhaps more importantly, it emphasises how the expertise of the UK’s world-leading social science research base can play a bigger and more systematic role in strengthening policy going forwards. That’s where we think the Academy can make a positive contribution in the years ahead.”
‘Beyond the ballot: social science insights on eight key policy challenges’ is a joint publication between the Academy’s Campaign for Social Science and Sage Publications. It summarises the insights of over 100 social scientists who contributed to the Campaign’s Election 24 project which sought to foreground social science perspectives, research and evidence relevant to public policy in the run up to the UK General Election.
Download the full report
Notes to Editors
For further information contact:
Amy Williams (Senior Communications Manager) at: a.williams@acss.org.uk / media@acss.org.uk
About the Academy of Social Sciences
The Academy of Social Sciences is the national academy of academics, practitioners and learned societies in the social sciences. The sector’s leading independent voice in the UK, we champion the vital role social sciences play in education, governments and business.
The social sciences include: anthropology; business, finance & management; development studies; economics; economic & social history; education; human geography; law; planning; politics; regional studies; sociology; social policy; social psychology; social statistics & methodologies.