Research Areas

Next State: Public finances in tough times and a new ‘statecraft’

Different views about the role of the state define our politics, underpinning different values and ideologies, and giving rise to different policy approaches. Resolving important questions about how politicians should view the state is therefore central to serious renewal of the British political economy. The Fabian Society, because of its historical associations with the welfare state and because of its widely recognised commitment to social justice, is well-placed to lead a broad-ranging programme which brings rigour and coherence to overlapping debates about the state.

This work-stream is a multi-year Fabian Society programme on the future of government in the UK. The work will reach across party politics, seeking to inform the thinking of all the main parties as they prepare for the next General Election. There will be a focus on public finances including original analysis and modeling as well as an extensive review of the principles and practical toolkit of state action.

Next Economy: Restoring growth and building a fairer economy

As the British economy continues to face economic shocks, the short term priority for politics is restoring growth and confidence. But beyond that lie important questions about the type of economy we want to build for future generations. Building on the work of the Fabian’s 2012 New Year Conference ‘the Economic Alternative’ this programme seeks to explore the themes of good and bad capitalism set out by Ed Miliband and promote debate on broad-based sources of growth which will bring prosperity to low and middle income groups.

The programme asks how our approach to the economy can deliver not only growth but also achieve broader social democratic aims? How can economic and business policy promote a fairer society where opportunity and prosperity is distributed widely across society?

Labour’s Next Majority: An electoral and political strategy for the left

Despite consistent poll leads and an increasingly unpopular Government, Labour faces an uphill struggle as the 2015 election approaches. What kind of strategy is needed to deliver Labour’s next majority? This project will bring together policy experts, polling specialists, campaign professionals and Labour activists to explore a host of electoral challenges: appealing to different demographic groups; developing messages that communicate ideas that speak to Labour values; revitalising the organisation of the party to connect with voters more effectively; and establishing the kind of good practice that can help rebuild trust in the party.

Environment & Citizenship: Sustainable consumption, public attitudes and fairness

Environmental challenges involve huge issues of justice and fairness. Some actions to avert dangerous climate change or other forms of environmental harm impose burdens on individuals, from constraints on consumption to financial costs. How these burdens are to be shared fairly is a crucial question for public policy. This programme looks at environmental policy challenges and the role of citizenship: both democratic consent and personal behavioural change. It considers the interaction between environmental issues, fairness and social justice and how public support can be built for sustainability measures affecting personal consumption. 

The programme’s first output is a report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation entitled ‘Sustainable Consumption and Climate Change: what do the public think is fair?’ The programme also focuses on specific areas of consumption including water efficiency, household food waste and sustainable aviation.