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From the Poor Law to Welfare to Work: What have we learned from a century of anti-poverty policies?

By David Coats with Nick Johnson and Paul Hackett

Price £9.99. Published January 2012

The authors successfully capture the story of how anti-poverty policies have evolved over a century and highlight the strengths and weaknesses of government interventions. They also provide a useful international comparison and discuss the drivers for change and the lessons learned. However, this report is much more than a historical commentary and critical assessment of what has been achieved. The evaluation of anti-poverty policies presented in this report is also intended to inform the current debate on how we eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities, which – as the authors show – have increased during recent periods of growth. The cornerstone of the report’s analysis and its challenge to today’s policy makers is the contention that redistribution (through welfare) is essential, but can only be part of the solution to combating poverty. The evidence from more than a century of reform is that lasting reductions in poverty and inequality also demand pre-distribution policies, notably in the labour market. The report is important and timely as governments seek to rebalance the relationship between the state and markets to achieve a fairer and more prosperous society.

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Gearing Up: getting more growth capital into the UK’s automotive supply chain

By Andy Rumfitt

Published 2011

This report forms part of the Institute’s ‘policies for change’ programme, which looks at what more could be done to rebuild and rebalance the economy. The report looks at the relationship between the financial sector and the UK’s fast changing automotive supply chain and provides insights on the market conditions and potential for expanding the sector. In particular, it makes a number of practical recommendations to help increase investment in the critical smaller and medium sized suppliers.

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A nation living on the never-never: policy solutions to reduce Britain’s personal debt mountain

Mick McAteer, Vidhya Alakeson, Matthew Whittaker, Grahame Whitfield, Sean Duggan, Gordon Bell, Joanna Elson, Damon Gibbons, George Wilkinson, Sarah Forster, and Mark Lyonette. Edited by Mick McAteer.

Price £9.99. Published 2011

UK personal debt has doubled over the past decade to £1.6 trillion, and is forecast to rise to £2.1 trillion by 2015 (taking the average household debt to £84,365). Total lending is now more than the country’s total output, with “stressed” unsecured borrowing reaching record highs. Do such high levels of indebtedness matter? Which groups are most at risk? How serious will the problem get? Do we have the right regulatory systems and agencies in place to cope with a personal debt crisis? And what alternative policies are on offer to deal with the wider impacts of the UK’s debt legacy? The contributors to this report have expertly grappled with these questions and offer new thinking on debt advice and credit management.

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Beatrice Webb: her quest for a fairer society - A hundred years of the Minority Report

By Michael Ward

Price £9.99. Published 2011

This new book tells the story of Beatrice Webb’s quest for a fairer society. In 1905 a Royal Commission was appointed to review the Poor Laws – Britain’s limited, harsh, often punitive welfare system, which dated back to 1834 and in parts to 1601. Beatrice Webb was appointed a member of the Commission, and soon despaired of most of the other members. In 1909 Beatrice produced a Minority Report, calling for the breakup of the Poor Law, while the majority of the Commission’s members called for more limited reforms. The Minority Report analysed the causes of poverty and unemployment as economic, rather than moral. It paved the way for the creation of the welfare state.

The book tells this story and brings to life Beatrice Webbs’ personality, her role as a campaigner for social reform and her encounters with the leading politicians and reformers of the age such as Churchill, Lloyd George, Beveridge and Keynes.

The author highlights some of the tensions at the heart of what would be called the ‘welfare state’ which are as apposite today as a hundred years ago: whether services should be concentrated on those in greatest need; universal versus selective provision; contributory versus non-contributory benefits; and what work incentives are necessary or appropriate.

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We Can’t Carry on Like This! Policy Solutions for the Under-pensioned: Perspectives from Key Players in the Sector

Rachel Reeves MP, Paul Goodwin, Joanne Segars, Oliver Heald MP, Niki Cleal, Diana Holland, Mike Cherry, Phil Mawhinney, Omar Khan, Otto Thoreson, Sally West and Jane Vass. Edited by Rachel Reeves MP.

Price £9.99. Published 2011

This excellent and timely publication forms part of the Smith Institute’s ongoing programme of work on policies for a fairer society. With falling real wages for many, rising levels of personal debt, an ageing population and a bleak economic outlook, the number of people who are “under-pensioned” is set to increase. The contributors to this collection highlight the scale and scope of the problem and offer a range of practical policy solutions. It is the responsibility of today’s politicians and policy makers to ensure that our pensions system is fit for purpose and can meet the demands of tomorrow’s pensioners. We hope that this report pushes the debate forward so that the necessary long-term decisions can be made with cross-party support.

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The Case for Consensus: Reforming local government finance

By Dan Corry and Chris Wales

Published July 2011

As the first stage of the local government resource review comes to a conclusion and following Nick Clegg’s recent intervention this timely report makes the case for reform of the business rate regime, but in a way that promotes localism and incentivises growth without hitting support for the poorest areas. As the authors make clear any long lasting settlement has to create a wide political consensus both nationally and locally.

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Making the Most of HRA Reform

By PwC and the Smith Institute

Published June 2011

As the legislation to reform the Housing Revenue Account concludes its passage through Parliament the Smith Institute and PwC thought it would be useful to examine the opportunities and risks arising from the changes. In particular, to better understand the impact of the reforms over time and explore the extent to which a new self-financing regime could increase investment in affordable housing. The report suggests that under the Reforms councils could have control of over £300bn of rental income over the next 30 years and they could build up over £50bn of new investment capacity.

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The End of the Affair: Implications of Declining Home Ownership

By Andrew Heywood

Price £9.99. Published 2011

The promise of home ownership has been at the heart of the UK’s political discourse since the mid 1970s, when only half of all households were owner-occupiers. Since Thatcher’s “right to buy” in the 1980, a long line of housing ministers from both the main parties have pushed for policies to get more people onto the property ladder. The net result, fostered by financial deregulation, was an increase in home ownership to a peak of just over 70% in 2003.However, home ownership is now on a downward trend, as a result of various social, economic, political and demographic changes. The talk of aspiration and security through home ownership has given way to serious concerns about widening housing inequalities, falling house prices, under-supply of new homes, and a shift away from reliance on asset-backed welfare and housing as a private investment. This report not only comprehensively documents and explains the decline in home ownership; it also explores the short- and longer-term costs and consequences for government, housing associations and the fast-growing private rented sector.

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Unlocking Potential: Perspectives on Women in Science, Engineering and Technology

Meg Munn MP, Sandi Rhys Jones OBE, Sue Ferns, Professor Athene Donald, Clare Thomson, Deidre Hughes, Dr Katie Perry, Gareth Humphreys MBE, Jenny Harvey, Dr Liz Ainsbury, Claire Jones, Arlene McConnell, Monika Sud CEng. Edited by Meg Munn MP.

Price £9.99. Published 2011

John Smith believed that social justice and economic efficiency were two sides of the same coin. This phrase, which guides the work of the Smith Institute, is particularly apposite to the issue of women in science, engineering and technology (SET). Despite rapid progress in other areas of the labour market, women are still under-represented in SET jobs. The authors of this collection of essays highlight not just the inequalities of this situation but also the cost to the UK economy. We hope that this publication, which offers some practical suggestions on how government and the professions can help create a more balanced and skilled SET workforce, will raise awareness of the issue.

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Reading the local runes: What the 2011 local election results suggest nationally

By Paul Hunter

Published 2011

A new in-house report examines what the 2011 local elections mean nationally. The report looks at the relationship over time and suggests that what matters when predicting general election results is local support for the opposition and not the governing party’s performance. It also analyses the implications 2011 results in regard to the fragmentation of British politicians and the electoral prospects of all three main parties.

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non partisan public policy think tank | progressive think tank

Additional Information, Read Below.

Public Policy

Public policy concerns the ideas and actions that government (at all levels) and the public sector more broadly undertakes. The actions are attempts to improve an aspect of public life. These actions take various forms and are undertaken by various government bodies and agencies. Such actions vary from passing or repealing a law, cutting or investing in a particular service, to less tangible actions such as calling for people to act in a certain way. Public policy involves consideration of a myriad of factors. These can include the impact on the economy, on individual behaviour, on equity, and on the law. Consideration is often made to the potential un/popularity of the policy. This is not only important for politicians but also the policy’s successful implementation by public servants. New policies also try to change a particular issue ideologically close to those implementing it. For example, a trade off may be made so the health budget receives increased funding whilst the defence budget is cut. Public policy has increasingly become evidenced based. With greater scrutiny and large sums of money involved, policy decisions have to be able to withstand close examination. In many cases government has chosen to scrutinise and evaluate a proposed policy by running a pilot scheme. Given the drive for efficiency and accountability public funded bodies and services have increasingly had to provide statistics on productivity and effectiveness. This complex dynamic between ideology, vested interests, electoral popularity and effectiveness impacts on every decision taken

Growing importance of Public Policy

The importance of public policy has increased as democracy and the state have expanded. Over recent years, the UK government’s expenditure has been around 40% of GDP (peaking during recessions and national crises before subsiding – at its highest it reached 61% in 1942 to 1944). As the public has demanded more action the state has played an ever larger role in attempting to cure societal ills. Not only has the state increased in size since the turn of the twentieth century but expectations have become greater. In recent years public services have come under pressure to deliver greater choice and freedom to citizens who have experienced higher standards of living and who are no longer willing to accept ‘one-size fits-all’ provision. This has meant greater efficiency savings and smarter public policy to deliver the kinds of services people expect. The complexities of public service delivery are only one aspect of the policy debate. With the importance of policy to the economy, business has looked to government to provide the right environment for growth so that they can compete with international firms. Such policy implications include government policy on education, health, rates of tax, labour flexibility, immigration and regulation to name but a few. Policy is also important for those campaigning on issues around poverty, international development, civil liberties, life chances and the environment. With so many different interests and such high expectations the importance of policy has never been greater or, indeed, more complex.

Independent Think Tank

Given the complexities of public policy formulation and implementation, government (and public agencies) have increasingly looked to independent research organisations to inform and improve their accountability, decision making and management. Research think tanks fill the gap between academia and the political world. By giving a platform to new thinking they offer government alternative approaches to policy formulation. They not only offer new approaches but actively try to influence decision making by engaging politicians. In parallel to this, public policy think tanks use the media to apply pressure on government and the opposition to support a particular proposal. These proposals for improved policy come out of research undertaken and events held. Research can vary in form. Often reports are drafted by individual researchers but publications can also consist of edited chapters on a particular theme or a report based on deliberation from an esteemed group of panellists. Effective research is evidenced based rather than purely ideological. Given the complexity of policy making, substantive evidence has to be in place to back up any recommendations. Publications are not only written by researchers, but can also be penned by academics, opinions formers, chief executives, decision makers, trade unionists, leaders from the third sector, civil servants, politicians, and journalists. In addition to research, events are held to debate and discuss issues. These can come in the form of roundtable discussions, seminars, conferences and lectures. By discussing issues with stakeholders it is hoped that a more rounded and nuanced approached to a policy can be found.

Nonpartisan Public Policy Think Tank

The number of nonpartisan think tanks has increased with the professionalisation of politics and growth of single issue campaigns. Most are not-for-profit organisations, independent, nonpartisan and free from government. They rely on grants, donations and contracts for funding. By being independent views and recommendations are more likely to be trusted. Independence is also important in engaging stakeholders. An open forum allows freedom to express new ideas and approaches to policy free of party dogma and politicking. Nonpartisan political think tanks offer new insights and thought leadership on public policy issues. Although think tank research is evidence based and independent there is often ideological bias in what is produced. In the world of policy and politics more broadly nothing can be said to be ideologically neutral. With so many influences, interests and beliefs policy cannot be value free. In reality policy has some normative foundation from which choices and trade offs are made. Research think tanks in the UK tend to have some form of political motivation. Broadly speaking they are either progressive or conservative so come at policy from a particular angle. Whilst this is true of some others look at a single policy areas such as the King’s Fund on health, the Institute for Fiscal Studies on economic analysis, and Chatham House on foreign affairs. Regardless of their particular agenda almost all are nonpartisan, with exceptions including the Fabian Society which is affiliated to the Labour Party or the Bow Group which has links with the Conservative Party.

Progressive Think Tanks

Progressive think tanks, like the Smith Institute, focus their work on issues around social justice, sustainability, equality and fairness. Progressive polices have traditionally looked at how we counter social exclusion to create a fairer more equal society. Progressives believe that by harnessing and shaping the power of the market the interests of the many can be best served. At the heart of progressive thought is the idea that individuals are social beings, and that through mutual endeavour social and economic problems can be overcome. Thus there is emphasis on collaboration rather than just individual action. Given the importance of cooperation issues around democracy and empowerment are stressed. There is also the belief that by being fairer society will also be more prosperous. By having fair provision of social goods the work force will be educated and healthy which will benefit the economy. A fairer society is not only good for the economy but also the individual whose capabilities can best be realised and sense of wellbeing increased. Progressives also stress the importance of sustainability and international development. Not only are these economic necessities they are moral issues as they allow opportunity to be extended to others – be it those in developing nations or to future generations. Modern centre-left thought is not merely about resource distribution but also about shaping institutions, policies and behaviour for the benefit of all. These norms shape the perspectives that progressive research takes. As such research often looks at issues such as health or education through the lens of social justice or equality

The Smith Institute

The Smith Institute is a leading nonpartisan public policy think tank which promotes progressive policies for a fairer society. We provide a high-level forum for new thinking and debate on public policy and politics. Through our research, reports, briefings, monographs, events, lectures, education, and our website, the Institute offers a platform for thought leadership on a wide range of topics. We are interested not only in innovation and new ideas but also in how to translate policy into practice. Founded in 1996 in memory of the late Rt. Hon. John Smith MP, the former leader of the Labour Party who had an all pervading passion for social justice, the Institute seeks to engage politicians, decision makers, practitioners, academia, opinion formers and commentators. The Institute’s activities are informed by a network of well known experts, policy makers, research fellows and patrons. Based in London, the Institute is a not for profit organisation which works in partnership with a range of public and private organisations, other nonpartisan political think tanks, foundations and charities. The Smith Institute has an excellent track record in influencing and shaping public policy, and extensive national and international contacts. Over the last decade we have held over 500 events and published more than 150 reports, with contributions from Prime Ministers and MPs to archbishops and chief executives. The Institute’s work strands include: economy and finance; government and politics; sustainability; business and third sector; local government, cities and regions; housing and regeneration; education and families; health and wellbeing; and EU and international.

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