Economics and Social Policy

Policy Exchange’s Economics and Social Policy Unit is leading the conversation on how to deliver a more prosperous Britain.

With experts in economics, data analysis and political science, it produces research on everything from the history of economic transformations and the value of property ownership to technical papers on regulatory reform and the housing market.

Policy Exchange's Policy Programme for Prosperity

At the centre of Policy Exchange’s economic research output is its Policy Programme for Prosperity. Led by renowned economist and founder of Capital Economics Roger Bootle, the project is concerned with the principle economic problem facing the United Kingdom at the present: low productivity. Its object is to produce a coherent, integrated, and radical strategy for addressing our disappointing productivity growth, and over the coming years, the project will produce a range of papers dealing with micro areas of the economy, from housing and healthcare to the criminal justice system.

Roger Bootle

Roger Bootle

Head of the Policy Programme for Prosperity

Dr James Vitali

Dr James Vitali

Head of Poltiical Economy

Ruth Kelly

Ruth Kelly

Senior Fellow, Economics and Social Policy

Geoffrey Owen

Geoffrey Owen

Head of Industrial Policy

Ben Sweetman

Ben Sweetman

Research Fellow

Latest Event

Policy Exchange’s Economics and Social Policy Unit has a successful track record of recommending a wide range of policies designed to increase growth, competition and the agility of the UK economy, while seeking to minimise the burden of excessive taxation and regulation where possible. The Unit frequently engages with a range of stakeholders across No.10, Parliament, the Civil Service, and industry, which has resulted in a high number of our recommendations being adopted as government policy, ranging from our recommendations on post-Brexit replacement of the Common Agricultural System’s production subsidy policy, to our call for greater support for new owners and renters.

The Unit has hosted a range of public events with high profile speakers, including two former Governors of the Bank of England, Lord King of Lothbury and Mark Carney, the Chancellor, Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, former Chancellor Rt Hon Lord Darling of Roulanish, and Jesse Norman MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury. We have also hosted private events with Rishi Sunak MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and Anthony Browne MP, member of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee.

October 28, 2024

Driving Growth

August 8, 2024

Growing Pension Capital

July 19, 2024

The UK's Broken Housing Market

May 19, 2024

Politicising Business

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