Commentary & Podcasts

Matthew Oakley examines the role of the new Payments Strategy Forum and outlines the often unconsidered importance that payments and methods of payment have in shaping our economy and society.

Engineering doesn’t always get the fame it deserves according to Guru Madhavan.

By Simon Rowell, Big Society Capital

SMF economist Katie Evans blogs on the latest mis-selling scandal to hit the UK banking sector, arguing that a real cultural change is still needed in banking and greater competition could provide the answer.

SMF Chief Economist Nida Broughton explores the latest employment figures and reflects on whether self-employment is an easy route out of poverty or whether it masks the scale of disadvantage that those from ethnic minority backgrounds face in accessing high quality jobs.

SMF Researcher Ben Richards summarises our latest Chalk + Talk seminar with Professor Edward Fieldhouse of the Institute for Social Change, University of Manchester who presented explanations for the fragmentation of Britain’s political party system drawing on his work as Director of the British Election Study.