A think-tank report examined social innovation - new ideas, such as patient-led healthcare and restorative justice, that met pressing unmet needs. It looked at how social innovation happened in non-governmental organizations, the public sector, and markets. It called for more systematic initiatives to tap the 'ubiquitous intelligence' that existed in every society.
Source: Geoff Mulgan with Simon Tucker, Rushanara Ali and Ben Sanders, Social Innovation: What is it, why it matters, how it can be accelerated, Young Foundation (020 8980 6263)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Oct
A think-tank report examined the challenges facing Maggie s children those born between 1980 and 1995 under Conservative governments and their prospects for the later stages of their lives in 50 years time. They would experience tougher financial conditions than their predecessors, not least because of high house prices and the contraction of company pension provision. Uncertainties over longevity both theirs and their parents threatened to raise the cost and reduce the availability of many pension products; the erosion of family ties would increase their risk of isolation as they grew older; and their working lives would be spent in an increasingly competitive environment for which the education system left many unprepared.
Source: Roger Gough (ed.), 2056: What Future for Maggie s Children?, Policy Exchange (020 7340 2650)
Links: Report | Summary | Age Concern press release
Date: 2006-Oct
A report said that Britain was in the grip of a 'social recession'. Economic growth had left many people better off, but no happier. Inequality was rife. Consumerism invaded everything. Society faced a new set of problems such as climate change, long working hours, and an ageing society, which New Labour?s policies failed to address. The report proposed a different, more inclusive society - with a living wage of ?7.05 per hour, free childcare and social care, restrictions on advertising to children, a legal duty of age equality, and an education system that balanced academic work with creativity and emotional life.
Source: Jonathan Rutherford and Hetan Shah (eds.), The Good Society, Compass (neal@compassonline.org.uk)
Links: Report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2006-Sep
A series of indicators was published of the United Kingdom's environmental, social, and economic well-being. Compared to around 5 years previously, 53 measures showed improvement, 17 showed deterioration, and 24 showed no change.
Source: Sustainable Development Indicators in Your Pocket: 2006 edition, Sustainable Development Commission (020 7944 4964)
Links: Report | Defra press release | Statistical press release
Date: 2006-Jul
A think-tank report said that addressing the most important challenges of this century ? including climate change, ageing, and chronic disease, as well as the prospects for sustainable growth ? would depend as much on social innovation as on new technologies.
Source: Geoff Mulgan et al., Social Silicon Valleys: A manifesto for social innovation, Young Foundation (020 8980 6263)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Apr
An article summarized recent empirical research on the determinants of subjective well-being. The evidence suggested the existence of unexploited opportunities to improve both employee satisfaction and enterprise efficiency.
Source: John Helliwell, 'Well-being, social capital and public policy: what's new?', Economic Journal, March 2006
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Mar
A new book provided a comprehensive overview of the concepts of happiness, well-being, interpersonal relations and reciprocity, as treated in economics.
Source: Luigino Bruni and Pier Luigi Porta (eds.), Economics and Happiness: Framing the analysis, Oxford University Press (01536 741727)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Feb
A think-tank report said that policy makers and the public needed to address the consequences of technologies to enhance the human mind and body, including memory-enhancing drugs, genetic selection of children, and dramatic increases in life expectancy.
Source: Paul Miller and James Wilsdon (eds.), Better Humans? The politics of enhancement and life extension, Demos and Wellcome Trust, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report | Summary | Demos press release
Date: 2006-Feb
A think-tank report said that urgent action was needed to safeguard Britain s demographic future, faced with trends in migration, fertility and longevity - and the consequent risks of rising levels of inequality and poverty, and damage to the economy. It outlined a political strategy that would enable the government to take an effective lead in responding to demographic change.
Source: Mike Dixon and Julia Margo, Population Politics, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Feb
A report mapped the state of relationships in daily life, including: friendship; love and marriage; relations with children, parents, work colleagues, neighbours and strangers; connexions made over the internet; and our identification with the 'virtual communities' of soap operas.
Source: Alessandra Buonfino and Geoff Mulgan, Porcupines in Winter: The pleasures and pains of living together in modern Britain, Young Foundation (020 8980 6263)
Links: Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Jan
A new book examined the scope and importance of social policy, treating it as the study of human well-being.
Source: Hartley Dean, Social Policy, Polity Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jan
A think-tank report set out a programme of social and economic change designed to meet the challenges of climate change, inequality, and economic instability, and to create a better society. It warned that there would be a high cost if governments returned to a 'business-as-usual' approach after the end of the global recession. Between 2010 and 2050 the cumulative cost of climate change would range from £1.6 to £2.5 trillion; and the cumulative cost of addressing preventable social problems associated with high levels of inequality was £4.5 trillion.
Source: Stephen Spratt, Andrew Simms, Eva Neitzert and Josh Ryan-Collins, The Great Transition: A tale of how it turned out right, New Economics Foundation (020 7820 6300)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jan