Professor Jun Du has officially started as Managing Director of The Productivity Institute. In her first blog, she explores what productivity means in a world shaped by constant change and why it matters more than ever. Read it here: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/product...

Productivity when nothing stands still - The Productivity Institute

In her first blog as Managing Director of The Productivity Institute, Professor Jun Du explores how the UK can adapt to economic change, technological disruption and global uncertainty, and outlines k...

productivity.ac.uk

TPI researchers contribute to new FCA-published work exploring how access to finance shapes investment, productivity and regional growth across the UK, offering evidence to inform policy discussions on long-term economic development. Read the reports here: www.fca.org.uk/publications...

Regional financial development and growth in the UK

Read our independent FCA-commissioned research exploring how UK financial services hubs relate to regional growth, productivity and SME access to finance.

fca.org.uk

1/3 Phase one of our Investment in Productive Places Campaign is now complete. Over the past months we've explored what it takes to drive productivity growth across the UK's regions and nations. Read the summary insights paper: bit.ly/4zc08kW

Places Campaign: Summary and Insights - The Productivity Institute

How can places boost productivity and prosperity? This report explores how investment in local capital assets can support inclusive growth across UK communities.

bit.ly

AI is becoming part of everyday work, but its productivity impact will depend on whether it can create lasting gains. In this Productivity Puzzles episode, @bartvanark.bsky.social discusses this with Martin Baily and @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social. Listen here: www.productivity.ac.uk/podcast/the-...

@bartvanark.bsky.social reflects on his time at TPI, the community it has built, and the importance of aligning research, policy and business. A big thank you to Bart for all his work and leadership at TPI. Read his farewell blog: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/product...

Productivity, Place and the Power of Alignment: Reflections on Six Years at TPI - The Productivity Institute

Bart van Ark reflects on six years at The Productivity Institute, exploring productivity, place, policy alignment and the value of collaboration.

productivity.ac.uk

Call for papers: The Productivity Institute Academic Conference 2026 Researchers are invited to submit draft papers or extended abstracts by 31 July 2026. This is a chance to share research and engage with fellow academics. See the conference website below for submission and attendance details.

Walsall is catching up on productivity, but accelerating growth will require investment in both economic assets and social foundations. New research from The Productivity Institute explores the priorities for inclusive and sustainable growth: www.productivity.ac.uk/research/fra...

Framing a place-based investment strategy for Walsall - The Productivity Institute

Walsall’s productivity lags behind the West Midlands and UK averages. But its long-term growth rate outpaces the region and is catching up.

productivity.ac.uk

Public investment can play an important role in supporting economic growth. In a new working paper, Paula Bejarano Carbó, Benjamin Caswell and Stephen Millard explore how productive public investment contributes to UK output. Read the full paper here: www.productivity.ac.uk/research/pub...

Public investment and supply - The Productivity Institute

In this paper, we investigate the link between public investment and output in the United Kingdom.

productivity.ac.uk

Manchester's economic transformation is attracting national attention. This BBC report explores the city's growth story, featuring productivity data from The Productivity Institute: bit.ly/45hBUI1 Learn more about the research behind the evidence through our Manchester Model project: bit.ly/3TPMWlf

Call for papers: The Productivity Institute Academic Conference 2026 Researchers are invited to submit draft papers or extended abstracts by 31 July 2026. This is a chance to share research and engage with fellow academics. See the conference website below for submission and attendance details.

What can the ‘Manchester Model’ teach us about UK productivity and growth? New TPI research highlights strengths in productivity, investment and governance, but key questions remain around earnings, diffusion and transferability. Read more and join the conversation: bit.ly/4webVNC

Manchester Model - The Productivity Institute

What can Greater Manchester's economic performance tell us about UK growth? Explore evidence and analysis on productivity, investment, governance, trade and regional development from The Productivity ...

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Is Manchester really outperforming the rest of the UK? New research from @andywestwood.bsky.social , @jpspencer.bsky.social & @joepeck.co.uk finds that while some productivity data is contested, Manchester's investment, skills and business growth all point to a strong economic story. bit.ly/44xYxrv

Is Greater Manchester growing significantly? If so, why? And what can we learn? - The Productivity Institute

Has Greater Manchester become one of the UK's strongest-performing city regions? This paper investigates the evidence behind the "Manchester Model", examining growth, productivity, investment and gove...

productivity.ac.uk

Congratulations to our Managing Director, @bartvanark.bsky.social, on his appointment to the newly established Dutch Productivity Council (Productiviteitsraad). The Council will provide independent advice to the Dutch government on improving labour productivity. #Productivity #LabourProductivity

Have you read this blog✍️by Jack Shaw, @productivity.bsky.social, which explores whether English Devolution might strengthen the UK union by offering opportunities to develop partnerships between cities, regions & devolved administrations across all 4 nations? ➡️ acss.org.uk/union-diplom...

Could R&D investment affect how much power firms have when setting wages? New TPI research explores how R&D may reduce employer wage-setting power by making firms more reliant on skilled workers whose knowledge is hard to replace. Read more: www.productivity.ac.uk/research/do-...

Do workers share in the returns to firm-level R&D activity? Evidence from labour markdowns in UK Manufacturing - The Productivity Institute

This study examines whether firms’ R&D investment shapes labour market power by affecting the wedge between workers’ marginal revenue product and wages.

productivity.ac.uk

5 years on from EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, trade hasn’t recovered. It has narrowed. New research shows UK-to-EU exports are down 54% in variety, even as values fell less. Trade has survived mainly where firms are locked into existing supply chains. www.productivity.ac.uk/research/sup...

Supply Chain Lock-in and the Selective Destruction of EU–UK Trade - The Productivity Institute

Post-Brexit trade only survives where companies were already "locked in" to each other through complex, shared manufacturing processes. But smaller, simpler trade relationships are being systematicall...

productivity.ac.uk

Really pleased to see this published. The UK’s underinvestment puzzle needs solving if we want to build a prosperous and resilient future.

The Productivity Institute@productivity.bsky.social · last mo.

Ambitious but risk averse UK managers aim high, but are more risk averse than peers abroad. They place more weight on potential losses than gains, holding back investment over time. By @teraallas.bsky.social and Stephen Roper: www.productivity.ac.uk/research/amb... 3/4

Why do UK firms hesitate to invest? New TPI research shows managers are ambitious, but risk averse, with informal decision-making slowing action. Find out more by reading the blog on our website: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/british... 1/4

British firms’ investment behaviour is informal and cautious - The Productivity Institute

How do UK managers make an investment decision? Research from The Productivity Institute looks at the process and the decision-making.

productivity.ac.uk

5 years on from EU-UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement, trade hasn’t recovered. It has narrowed New research shows UK-to-EU exports are down 54% in variety, even as values fell less Trade has survived where firms are locked into existing supply chains www.productivity.ac.... @productivity.bsky.social

Better population mental health is linked to stronger local economic performance. Research w/ TPI academics finds improved local mental health is linked to higher incomes, especially in northern regions. Read more: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/better-... Full study: bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjo...

Better mental health linked to stronger local economies, new research shows - The Productivity Institute

A new study finds a clear positive association between improvements in mental health and increases in household income.

productivity.ac.uk

As Andy Burnham proposes moving No.10 functions north, attention turns to the “Manchester model”. 2 new TPI papers show how devolution, strong institutions & investment have boosted productivity for Manchester. 1: www.productivity.ac.uk/research/uk-... 2: www.productivity.ac.uk/research/the...

UK-Wide Growth and Development: Insights from the ‘Manchester Model’ - The Productivity Institute

This paper explores how the ‘Manchester model’ of devolved governance and strategic collaboration offers solutions to the UK’s regional inequalities by addressing key barriers to investment, innovatio...

productivity.ac.uk

Next was an excellent discussion on why UK firms are slower to invest than their peers with @teraallas.bsky.social, Stephen Roper, and Catherine Mann at @productivity.bsky.social www.productivity.ac.uk/podcast/why-... (7/8)

Why do Firms (not) Invest? - The Productivity Institute

Why do firms invest when they do and not necessarily when they should? This episode of Productivity Puzzles explores why the UK has invested less than its peers.

productivity.ac.uk

🎙️ New Productivity Puzzles episode! Why do UK firms not invest? @bartvanark.bsky.social talks with @teraallas.bsky.social, Stephen Roper & Catherine Mann about why firms hesitate to invest and how management decisions shape productivity. Listen: www.productivity.ac.uk/podcast/why-...

International Productivity Monitor No. 50 (Spring 2026) is out now! This milestone edition explores AI, manufacturing, healthcare productivity and more, marking 25 years and 350 articles shaping global productivity debate. Explore the issue: www.productivity.ac.uk/ipm/no-50-sp...

No. 50, Spring 2026 - The Productivity Institute

The 50th issue of the International Productivity Monitor covers AI, intangible capital, manufacturing productivity, healthcare measurement, and the cost of living.

productivity.ac.uk

🎙️ New Productivity Puzzles episode! Why do UK firms not invest? @bartvanark.bsky.social talks with @teraallas.bsky.social, Stephen Roper & Catherine Mann about why firms hesitate to invest and how management decisions shape productivity. Listen: www.productivity.ac.uk/podcast/why-...

TPI in the news this week! Jun Du spoke to BBC News, LBC & others on new Brexit research: UK–EU trade hasn’t recovered and, in many way, is getting worse. Exports down 54% in variety, with trade now surviving mainly due to existing supply chains. Read: www.productivity.ac.uk/research/sup... 1/5

Supply Chain Lock-in and the Selective Destruction of EU–UK Trade - The Productivity Institute

Post-Brexit trade only survives where companies were already "locked in" to each other through complex, shared manufacturing processes. But smaller, simpler trade relationships are being systematicall...

productivity.ac.uk

5 years on from EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, trade hasn’t recovered. It has narrowed. New research shows UK-to-EU exports are down 54% in variety, even as values fell less. Trade has survived mainly where firms are locked into existing supply chains. www.productivity.ac.uk/research/sup...

Supply Chain Lock-in and the Selective Destruction of EU–UK Trade - The Productivity Institute

Post-Brexit trade only survives where companies were already "locked in" to each other through complex, shared manufacturing processes. But smaller, simpler trade relationships are being systematicall...

productivity.ac.uk

With all eyes on Manchester after Andy Burnham’s win, attention turns to the “Manchester model”. Two new pieces of TPI research shows how devolution, strong institutions and targeted investment have boosted productivity, raising bigger questions for UK growth beyond the South East. 1/3

The Janeway Institute's conference starts today! Tomorrow will include a dedicated session from The Productivity Institute, with Philip McCann and Jun Du in conversation with Paul Mizen. Find out more and read the full programme below!

The Janeway Institute, Cambridge@janewayinstitute.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Starts today! W/ the 10th anniv of the #brexit referendum approaching on 23/06, we hear from eminent scholars on the macroeconomic effects. See the full programme: bit.ly/4eOU8WS Delighted to sponsor w/: @kingscollege.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @productivity.bsky.social #econsky

Only 11% of UK businesses intend to increase investment in the near term. Yet, few firms cite access to finance or inadequate returns as a reason. Read our @productivity.bsky.social research on how UK managers' attitudes may be constraining profitable investment: bit.ly/4atmsvu #dataisbeautiful