Economics Observatory | Questions and answers about coronavirus and the UK economy

Why should we care about obesity?

Obesity is increasing in the UK and around the world, including among children from disadvantaged backgrounds. As well as immediate health effects, obesity can have an impact on young people’s learning and future prospects.

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Energy & climate change

How are agricultural economies affected by climate change?

Weather can have a significant impact on agricultural production. Changes in climate and increases in extreme weather events exacerbate this, leaving poor households in rural areas particularly vulnerable.

Business, big & small

Should companies be allowed to buy back their own shares?

During the pandemic, there has been severe hostility to firms buying back their own shares, a practice only made legal in the UK in 1981. Opposition to stock repurchases is associated with allegations of ‘short-termism’, but there is little evidence to support such claims.

Families & households

Does rent control work?

Rising rents in UK cities has brought rent control policies to the forefront of political debate. The Scottish National Party/Scottish Green Party coalition has recently proposed a nationwide system of rent controls, in an attempt to make housing more affordable.

Aid & international development

How is Covid-19 affecting gender inequality in low-income countries?

Gender disparities in social and economic outcomes, already larger in the developing world than in the rich countries, have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Policy action is vital to address the compounding of existing inequalities and to protect the most vulnerable women.

News

Getting back on track

There are numerous policy challenges on the road to a net-zero economy. Investing in green technology could well hold the key to a sustainable future. But continuing to miss agreed targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions risks driving up costs.

Data Hub

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Science, technology & innovation

What are the social responsibilities of the dominant digital platforms?

Most digital platforms have emerged as big winners from the pandemic. Yet they are under regulatory pressure on both sides of the Atlantic. A fundamental question is whether and how these businesses should be held accountable for what happens on their websites.

Energy & climate change

Is the UK on track to meet its climate commitments?

The UK government has set ambitious emissions reduction targets to help tackle climate change. But it is currently falling short, and more funding and policy interventions will be needed to reach the ultimate objective of net zero.

Schools, universities & training

How should we measure the development of human capital in children?

The academic, social and emotional skills that children acquire during their upbringing play a critical role in their later lives. For most youngsters, the pandemic has disrupted both school and home life, reigniting debate about how best to quantify these elements of ‘human capital’.

Energy & climate change

What are the likely costs of the transition to a sustainable economy?

Meeting agreed climate targets requires an unprecedented structural transformation of the global economy over the next two or three decades. Yet conditional on action being taken early, the opportunities from the transition should significantly outweigh the costs.

Business, big & small

What may happen to firm-level productivity in the UK after Covid-19?

Many businesses have responded to the pandemic by adopting new technologies and working practices. These may lead to productivity improvements. But other factors are important too, including the impact that damage to supply chains could have on the most productive ‘frontier firms’.

Lessons from history

What are the long-term economic effects of pollution?

The eastern parts of cities like London, Paris and New York are more deprived than neighbourhoods to the west. These higher levels of poverty today can be linked back to pollution levels during the time of industrialisation.0101

Lessons from history

What were the economic consequences of Irish independence?

Following partition of the island of Ireland in 1921, the two successor states had to forge separate paths, both politically and economically. The experience of the early years of the Irish Free State offers lessons for today’s debates about independence from the UK.

All Answers