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Net migration in the UK reached historic highs following the introduction of the post-Brexit immigration system. While this is likely to have only minor effects on the labour market and public finances, evidence on housing is more mixed. The impact of further policy reforms targeting demand for migrant workers is also uncertain.

The UK’s financial services sector is facing falling investment, posing a risk to this vital part of the country’s economy. In response, regulators must balance consumer protection with growth, by ensuring proportionate oversight, clear rules and targeted support.

The West of England has a diverse economy, including rural areas, services-based jobs and advanced manufacturing hubs. Investment in infrastructure, skills and research and development (R&D) could help to boost the region’s productivity.

Uganda’s smallholder farmers continue to struggle with low crop yields. The government has tried public subsidies for key inputs in order to boost productivity. But the success of these policies relies on programme design and implementation, as well as the availability of complementary services.

Customs checks, differences in regulation and border delays have negatively affected EU-UK trade since Brexit. They’ve also cut the number of active firms and weakened competition. A range of policies could alleviate the effects: reducing the costs of firm entry is likely to have the biggest impact.

The 16-year-olds who took their GCSEs this summer started secondary school in the middle of the pandemic. The results of these high-stakes exams will highlight the uneven toll that Covid-19 lockdowns took on learning, as well as the key role that good grades play in shaping future opportunities.

To succeed, the industrial strategy needs to build strong local ecosystems in places where the eight priority sectors can thrive. The example of Greater Manchester shows why investment must be joined-up and focused on making the city-region a more productive place to do business across the board.

The Hundred cricket competition will soon have a new ownership structure. The sale of franchises will provide funds for the sport’s grassroots. But differences in the types of owners and ownership structures may bring bigger changes, including to TV rights and the county game.

The immediate inflationary impact of widening conflict in the Middle East is likely to be limited. But potential trade and supply chain disruptions, weakening business sentiment and elevated uncertainty could have major consequences for the global economy. Governments face tough budgetary choices.

Policy-makers understand that when firms have market power over the goods and services that they sell, consumers suffer. The consequences of market power in supply chains are less clear, but they also could harm consumers. Competition authorities are examining the research evidence.

Germany’s experience of reunification suggests that economic reintegration can take generations, not years – so leaders should avoid making unrealistic promises. Success requires not just material convergence, but also attention to social cohesion, institutional legitimacy and cultural recognition.

China’s semiconductor industry faces a tension between self-sufficiency and global integration, engaging in open innovation where possible, but pivoting to security-driven self-reliance when necessary. Progress has been made, but big challenges remain, particularly with growing geopolitical risks.

A dire financial position at University College, Cardiff in the 1980s required an emergency response from the highest levels of UK government. Now, four decades on, Cardiff University and many other higher education institutions face a similar crisis – and may also require some kind of rescue.

The UK’s financial services sector is facing falling investment, posing a risk to this vital part of the country’s economy. In response, regulators must balance consumer protection with growth, by ensuring proportionate oversight, clear rules and targeted support.

Council tax is unpopular, unfair and overdue for reform. An alternative would be to fund statutory services through central government, introduce a modest local service charge, and absorb stamp duty and capital gains tax on housing into a single recurrent residential land and property ownership fee.

Global agriculture has been hit by US tariffs on goods exports. Farmers in the United States now face diminished access to international markets, while many people in developing countries are at greater risk of food insecurity as prices for grain and fertiliser rise.

The quality and trustworthiness of economic statistics have been in the news on both sides of the Atlantic. Many of the issues have emerged since the pandemic, in particular as a result of low survey response rates. This form of data collection remains essential for understanding the labour market.

Despite facing unprecedented sanctions on its energy exports, Russia continues to earn hundreds of billions of dollars a year from oil and gas – directly funding military aggression in Ukraine. While sanctions have had a noticeable impact, they have failed to end the war.

With clubs posting significant losses and a number going out of business, the future of rugby union in England is uncertain. Recent boosts in attendance and TV viewers offer promise, but significant structural changes to the sport are required – to governance, revenue and salaries.

The May 2025 ‘reset’ between the European Union and the UK addresses frictions that have emerged as a result of Brexit. The economic effects may be somewhat limited, but the agreement reflects political realities and brings stability at a time of heightened global uncertainty.

Policy-makers understand that when firms have market power over the goods and services that they sell, consumers suffer. The consequences of market power in supply chains are less clear, but they also could harm consumers. Competition authorities are examining the research evidence.

Germany’s experience of reunification suggests that economic reintegration can take generations, not years – so leaders should avoid making unrealistic promises. Success requires not just material convergence, but also attention to social cohesion, institutional legitimacy and cultural recognition.

The Belt and Road Initiative lies at the heart of China’s outward economic engagement, providing opportunities for Chinese firms abroad and boosting infrastructure and development in recipient countries. Future challenges include governance, debt sustainability, and social and environmental effects.