The Latest Breaking News from the Economic and Social Research Council

'Just the rich can do it': our research shows how immigration income requirements devastate families

The government has announced a host of new restrictions aimed at cutting net migration to the UK. Headline announcements include increasing the salary requirements for skilled foreign workers from £26,200 to £38,700, and banning health and care workers from bringing family dependants to the UK.

The Conversation · Dec 5, 2023

Deliveroo judgment shows how gig economy platforms and courts are eroding workers' rights

The tide of employment law has continued to turn on the gig economy after the UK Supreme Court’s recent ruling that Deliveroo drivers are not considered workers but self-employed independent contractors.

The Conversation · Nov 28, 2023

How Europe’s authoritarian populists maintain the illusion of a free press

Authoritarian leaders might be good at damaging democracy, but unless they are pure dictators they often still need to worry about winning elections. In the last few years, Europe has seen the rise of a number of authoritarian populists who rely on winning mass support among ordinary people – as…

The Conversation · Oct 4, 2023

How co-working spaces can boost local economies

The routine of commuting five days a week to and from an employer’s office now seems somewhat old fashioned. Flexible and remote working have become much more common – and popular.

The Conversation · Jul 10, 2023

Autism: later-life diagnosis doesn't mean lower quality of life – new research

A growing number of people are discovering that they are autistic in adulthood. This is especially the case among women, with a number of celebrities – such as model and reality star Christine McGuinness and TV presenter Melanie Sykes – sharing their experiences of being diagnosed as an adult.

The Conversation · Jun 22, 2023

Learning to read is a journey: a study identifies where South African kids go off track

Any parent who has watched a child learning to read knows that it is a journey. Various skills and processes must come together and build “brick by brick” before a child can read a text and answer questions about it.

The Conversation · Jun 6, 2023

The COVID pandemic risks lasting damage to adult social care

Three years have passed since the UK government implemented emergency legislation in response to the COVID pandemic. The Coronavirus Act 2020 made amendments to laws affecting many aspects of society, including the duties and powers incumbent on England’s local authorities to provide adult social care under the Care Act 2014.

The Conversation · Apr 5, 2023

People with a history of poor mental health were more likely to face psychological and financial problems during the pandemic

More than a million people in England are waiting for mental health support due to soaring demand exacerbated by the pandemic. On top of this, an estimated eight million people with mental health concerns are not seeking NHS help.

The Conversation · Mar 27, 2023

Persistent absence from school is a growing threat to children’s education

The pandemic has exacerbated the problem of school absences. When schools reopened, fewer pupils went to school than before the COVID-19 school closures.

The Conversation · Mar 17, 2023