Although motivated parents jockey to get their children into the classes with well-regarded teachers, and many education policy researchers staunchly defend the importance of high-quality teachers for student outcomes, finding evidence that quality teachers make much of a difference to … Continue reading
With the sound of student protest ringing in my ears in London – and some of it even carrying across the Irish sea – the crisis is beginning to feel less like an arcane piece of economic theory, and instead … Continue reading
Social investment represents the very last justification for the use of social policy in Europe in times of public cuts. But its ambition to find shared European policy solutions, while missing a single national focus, might create what Sartori called … Continue reading
It is sometimes said that “a rising tide lifts all boats,” meaning that the benefits of a rising economy are ultimately enjoyed by everyone in society. But when is the lift greatest for those at the bottom of the income … Continue reading
Suddenly a slew of articles have started talking about attitudes to pay inequality in the UK. I’ll write my own thoughts on this in the coming months, but for the moment I thought I’d just flag a few of the … Continue reading
A few days ago Ben (channeling Paul Pierson) posed the provocative question: does the welfare state still matter? Because welfare states are so complex in structure and function, it’s unlikely that there is a single answer across all domains of … Continue reading
In a guest post, Stephen McNair argues that the public spending cuts in the UK will disproportionately affect older workers – and that the Government urgently needs to combat this. The UK Government’s plans to shift the balance of employment from … Continue reading
For those on the left, it’s almost taken for granted that a more equal society is a good thing. As we’ve discussed before for ‘The Spirit Level’, there are evidence-based (but contentious) claims that more equal societies are healthier, safer, … Continue reading
We’ve just launched the site to a wider audience – so for new readers, here’s a quick recap of what you’ve missed since the blog was launched: Beyond the welfare state – several of us have arguing that it’s simply … Continue reading
Looking back over the ‘age of austerity’ since the 1970s, we know that the welfare state has declined. We know that welfare payments have become less generous, some people have seen their entitlements curtailed, and we’ve been left without the … Continue reading
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