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In Northern Ireland, 18 seats are being contested in the 2024 general election. Ever-present constitutional issues and heightened economic and social challenges are likely to feature prominently in voters’ minds.

To boost the economy after lockdown, the devolved government in Northern Ireland gave every citizen a £100 ‘spend local’ voucher. New data show where and when vouchers were spent, enabling an evaluation of the scheme.

Some parts of Northern Ireland’s workforce are well qualified by the standards of much of the UK, but their skills are not being translated into new processes and products brought to market by businesses. A ten-year strategy seeks to foster greater innovation and a more prosperous economy.

The centenary of the creation of the Irish border offers a chance to reflect on the economic performance of the two Irelands over the last 100 years, as well as looking at some policy lessons from the past.

Northern Ireland and Great Britain have long been a single highly integrated internal market. With Brexit and a new Protocol to ensure no hard border on the island of Ireland, the UK’s internal market is disrupted, creating complications around taxes, tariffs and regulatory compliance.

The health and social care system in Northern Ireland faces significant challenges: from long waiting times for appointments to declining numbers of GP practices. Additional resources and strengthened political will are essential for improving the system and health outcomes for the population.

The history of British defence policy has been one of constant imbalance between resources, capability and commitments, interspersed with reviews that fail to solve the fundamental problems. These appraisals are typically done at times of economic crisis when public expenditure must be controlled.

Paris hosted the 2024 Summer Olympic Games – the 30th of the modern era. Memories will be dominated by great sporting moments, including athletes winning their countries’ first ever medals. But the mega-event also highlighted issues around representation, equality, cost control and home advantage.

Ten charts tell the story of Labour’s landslide victory in the UK’s 2024 general election, putting it in historical perspective and, in the data on turnout, revealing the disengagement of many voters.

What is the right level of migration for the UK? Is the country on track to meet its commitments on tackling climate change? And how will big changes in the world trading environment affect the economy? Our fourth election newsletter looks at some of the global issues at stake in the election.

Should the UK have compulsory national service? Do we need more police? How bad are NHS waiting lists? What about our failing water companies? Over the past week, the UK has seen a host of new policy proposals in these areas.

The UK’s poor productivity limits wage growth and better living standards. But the problem has no quick fixes. To boost productivity, policy-makers must establish and stick to a long-term strategy that includes diverse sectors – from technology and innovation to education, housing and transport.

While wages are growing faster than expected, real take-home pay is falling across all UK regions and nations. In most parts of the country, median pay is growing faster than average (mean) pay, reflecting, in part, post-pandemic competition for lower paid roles.

To boost the economy after lockdown, the devolved government in Northern Ireland gave every citizen a £100 ‘spend local’ voucher. New data show where and when vouchers were spent, enabling an evaluation of the scheme.

Scotland and Northern Ireland share a long history, shaped by generations of migration and trade. If Scotland were to become independent, it would be likely to affect Northern Ireland: how would ultimately depend on the form of constitutional change pursued.

Low productivity is widely recognised as one of the most important economic challenges facing the UK. But it is a problem that has affected Northern Ireland’s economy for the past 100 years – and it is yet to be solved.

Given the resurgence of the virus and a bigger fall in Northern Ireland’s GDP than expected, policy is focused on restoring public health and maintaining some stability of jobs and incomes. But delays in tackling underlying economic weaknesses will have long-term costs.

A century ago, advocates and opponents of Irish independence presented arguments about the future of Ireland’s economy outside the UK. With the benefit of hindsight, we can see that predictions made by both sides have come to pass at different points over the past 100 years.

Successive UK governments have struggled to promote economic growth in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2007-09. In an interview conducted in late 2023, former business secretary Vince Cable talks to John Turner about some of the persistent challenges for policy-makers.

Northern Ireland has poorer productivity than the other two devolved nations. At a recent event in Belfast, researchers, politicians and policy officials discussed the roles of skills, training, childcare and apprenticeships in boosting the nation’s economic performance.

What is the right level of migration for the UK? Is the country on track to meet its commitments on tackling climate change? And how will big changes in the world trading environment affect the economy? Our fourth election newsletter looks at some of the global issues at stake in the election.

Should the UK have compulsory national service? Do we need more police? How bad are NHS waiting lists? What about our failing water companies? Over the past week, the UK has seen a host of new policy proposals in these areas.

Start-ups and smaller companies were disproportionately affected by the economic shock from Covid-19. Despite their limited access to private sources of finance, many were able to stay afloat because they adapted their business models and made use of government loan schemes.