Thinking Policy

WPI Economics

Welcome to Thinking Policy, the new podcast from WPI Economics, where evidence, data, and diverse ideas converge to shape important debates. Each episode features two expert guests discussing a single economic or social policy challenge from different perspectives

פרקים

  1. לפני יומיים (2)

    The City and Society: Financial Inclusion, Regulation and Digital Change

    Episode three of WPI Economics’ Thinking Policy explores the relationship between the City and society through financial inclusion, regulation and rapid digital change. John Godfrey (TheCityUK) argues financial services underpin jobs and everyday life, and calls for better education, accessible guidance, tackling digital exclusion, and forward-looking policy on digital currencies, crypto and digital ID; he also discusses permitting product bundling to widen insurance cover, using “sharpened carrots” such as auto-enrolment and Flood Re, and how to unlock the benefits of new growth and competitiveness objectives for regulators. Rebecca Deegan (Fair By Design) stresses the impact of the poverty premium, says low income drives exclusion, and wants markets reshaped through rules and intervention (notably in motor insurance), alongside inclusion-focused regulation, greater workforce diversity, and transparent, equitable AI. WPI Economics’ Matt Oakley and Joe Ahern reflect on market–state partnership examples, including access to cash and CDFI support, and link financial inclusion with economic growth. 00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup 01:05 Why the City Matters 01:55 Expanding Financial Inclusion 03:08 Future Proofing Inclusion 05:56 Bundling and Protection 06:58 Carrots, Sticks and Examples 10:11 Avoiding Unintended Effects 13:52 Competitiveness Objective 16:02 AI and Digital Change 18:34 Rebecca on Poverty Premium 20:24 Designing for Inclusion 23:57 Strategy Gaps and Motor Cover 26:44 Sticks and System Reform 28:51 Credit Caps and Tradeoffs 30:56 Regulation Competition Outcomes 33:04 Workforce Diversity Matters 37:10 Rebecca on AI Risks 39:43 WPI Reflections with Matt 42:06 State Market Partnerships 45:02 Growth Case for Inclusion 46:38 Wrap Up and Next Steps

    ‏48 דק׳

  2. 26 במרץ

    Navigating youth unemployment: rethinking support for young people.

    This episode of Thinking Policy centres on the pressing issue of youth unemployment in the United Kingdom, particularly the alarming statistic that nearly a million young individuals are classified as not in education, employment, or training (NEET). We speak to two guests - Harriet McCann, the Director of Policy, Insights and External Affairs at the National Youth Agency, and Richard Rigby, the Head of UK Government Affairs at the King's Trust, who give their perspectives on the multifaceted causes of this challenge, which include - but are not limited to - economic instability, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased mental health concerns among the young. We explore the systemic barriers that exacerbate this crisis and the potential strategies for fostering a more supportive environment for young people. The episode touches on the recently published National Youth Strategy and the need for cohesive, cross-departmental collaboration to address these issues. The WPI Economics team then reflects on the need for a holistic approach that emphasises the importance of early intervention and support mechanisms to mitigate the risks faced by the current generation. Takeaways: The podcast discusses the alarming statistic that nearly a million young individuals in the UK are currently classified as neither in education, employment, nor training, a situation that necessitates urgent action.The conversation highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young people, exacerbating existing challenges and creating new barriers to employment and education.Expert guests emphasise the fundamental role of youth work in fostering resilience and the importance of providing young people with trusted adults to guide them during critical transitions into adulthood.It is posited that systemic issues such as child poverty and cuts to youth services have worsened the current situation for young people, necessitating a comprehensive reassessment of funding priorities and support mechanisms.The episode underscores the need for a multifaceted approach, addressing both immediate employment challenges and the long-term societal issues impacting youth engagement and well-being Links: National Youth Strategy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy National Youth Agency response: https://nya.org.uk/nya-response-to-the-national-youth-strategy/ King’s Trust’s 50th Anniversary social impact report: https://www.kingstrust.org.uk/about-us/news-views/50-years-of-working-for-young-people-report NEET data, February 2026, ONS: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/bulletins/youngpeoplenotineducationemploymentortrainingneet/february2026 00:00 Welcome and Youth Strategy 01:22 Why NEET Is Rising 02:48 Youth Work and Prevention 05:54 Funding and Joined Up Government 08:54 Trusted Adults by 2035 10:33 Proving Impact and Value 12:14 What We Over and Underthink 14:01 Richard on Disrupted Generation 17:22 Kings Trust Solutions and Partnerships 21:23 Impact Report and ROI Evidence 22:46 Stop Blaming Young People 24:52 WPI Debrief UK Specific Problem 28:41 How the SROI Was Built 32:11 Ed on Poverty and Pensions 35:41 Wrap Up and Next Steps

    ‏37 דק׳

  3. 5 בפבר׳

    Unboxing the challenge ahead for the UK’s second Pension Commission.

    Welcome to Thinking Policy. The new podcast from https://wpieconomics.com/ Thinking Policy = Policy Unboxed. This episode discusses the legacy and influence of the first Pensions Commission, lauded for setting a standard in evidence-based, long-term policymaking, and the challenges facing its successor. The episode examines the first Commission's impact, the continuity of its policy approaches and the importance of long-term decision making. It explores what has changed in the employment landscape since, including the rise of self-employment, and the need for the future system to tackle remaining gaps in coverage while also addressing issues around pension adequacy. The discussion looks ahead to how the second Pensions Commission can respond effectively to this more complex picture. Joining the WPI Economics team for this first episode are our experts: Jo Phillips - Director of Research and Innovation at Nest Insight https://www.nestinsight.org.uk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-phillips-3930323/ Matt Burrell - Head of Public Affairs for Long-Term Savings at Phoenix Group https://www.thephoenixgroup.com/ linkedin.com/in/matthewcburrell For more information: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-pensions-commission www.nestinsight.org.uk Workplace emergency savings, including sidecar saving Supporting self-employed people to save for retirement Housing and Pensions Pensions adequacy and the household balance sheet UK pension reforms (1997-2015) NEW: Nest Insight research suggests caution needed over the idea of ‘pension access schemes’ for first-time home buyers Join the conversation, find us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/wpi-economics/posts/?feedView=all https://wpieconomics.com/podcasts/episode-1/ Keep up to date with our work, upcoming events and policy insights by signing up to our newsletter - https://wpieconomics.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=59aedfe7c4344116a3955fe95&id=8fa8a934e5 00:00 Introduction to the Pensions Commission 00:18 Evaluating the Commission's Reputation 00:47 Impact of Government Changes on Policy 00:58 The Role of Political Consensus 01:29 Fundamental Shifts in Pension Saving 02:10 Changes in Work and Retirement Since 2006 02:21 Challenges of a Pillar Two-Based Pension System 03:16 The Rise of Precarious Employment 03:41 Automatic Enrollment and Employer Roles 04:01 Pension Freedoms and Retirement Income 04:41 Balancing Complexity and Simplicity in Pension Systems 09:04 Increasing Private Pension Savings 09:46 Addressing Self-Employment in Pension Policy 10:49 The Commission's Remit and Recommendations 12:24 Conclusion: Ensuring Adequate Retirement

    ‏37 דק׳

  4. טריילר לעונה 1

    Introducing Thinking Policy - Policy Unboxed

    Welcome to Thinking Policy, the new podcast from WPI Economics, where evidence, data, and diverse ideas converge to shape important debates. Each episode features two expert guests discussing a single economic or social policy challenge from different perspectives. The WPI Economics team then reflects, fact-checks, and challenges assumptions to uncover what really works. Topics include inequality, welfare, housing policy, green growth, and the future of work. Subscribe on your favourite podcast app and follow WPI Economics on LinkedIn. Join the conversation, find us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/wpi-economics/posts/?feedView=all Keep up to date with our work, upcoming events and policy insights by signing up to our newsletter - https://wpieconomics.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=59aedfe7c4344116a3955fe95&id=8fa8a934e5 https://wpieconomics.com/ 00:00 Introduction to Thinking Policy Podcast 00:13 Expert Guests and Their Perspectives 00:25 WPI Economics Team's Role 00:41 Topics We Cover 01:03 Join the Conversation

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אודות

Welcome to Thinking Policy, the new podcast from WPI Economics, where evidence, data, and diverse ideas converge to shape important debates. Each episode features two expert guests discussing a single economic or social policy challenge from different perspectives

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  • יוצרים
    WPI Economics
  • שנות פעילות
    2K‏
  • פרקים
    4
  • סיווג
    תוכן הולם
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    © Copyright 2026 WPI Economics
  • אתר התכנית
    Thinking Policy