A prosperous and fair society

Despite its underlying strengths, the UK economy is undergoing a period of historic stagnation. It has undermined living standards, entrenched inequalities and exacerbated many of the nation’s most urgent social challenges.

A fairer society and stronger economy should go hand in hand. We will fund research and collaborate with partners to gain a deeper understanding of the interaction between economic performance and social problems, and how changes in one can drive progress in the other.

We want to identify routes to economic growth and reductions in poverty, insecurity and inactivity through:

• Economic levers to increase investment, productivity and employment, such as tax, industrial, trade and competition policies
• Social investment approaches, such as education, training, income insurance and support for those with health conditions

What we’re interested in

These are particular questions we are interested in exploring. We welcome proposals that address them directly or explore adjacent issues. If your work aligns with our aims, we’d like to hear from you.

• How does economic policy and performance shape outcomes – including on living standards, poverty, social mobility and the distribution of wealth for different people, groups and places?
• What are the sharpest insecurities that particular groups face in the labour market, housing and their interactions with the welfare state? How do these insecurities compound, and how might they be addressed?
• How can our education and care systems best equip children and young people to thrive and reach their potential? What support does the current generation of young people need to make the transition to adulthood?
• How can employers and public services better support the rising numbers of people with significant health conditions or disabilities to undertake fulfilling work and secure a decent standard of living?
• What trade-offs arise in the dual pursuit of rising prosperity and greater equality, and how can they best be managed?