Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit blog
Catch up on the most recent posts from our Growth and Inclusion blog located on the Policy@Manchester website.
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Accelerated automation and digital advances in the world of food retail
17 August 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted consumers to buy food online, which meant that food retailers had to adapt quickly. In this blog, Abbie Winton explores the changes that food retailers had to make during the pandemic and how these changes may have long-lasting consequences for the sector. Every major food retailer sought additional workers, which helped […]
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New business models cutting back on single-use plastic: lessons for a zero waste circular economy
28 July 2021
As the host for the COP26 this November, the UK is in the spotlight when it comes to reducing emissions. Plastic production and consumption is an important contributor to climate change, business models that are cutting back on single-use plastic offer important lessons, and inspiration, to drive an agenda that moves towards a circular economy. […]
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LGBTIQ+ people in Brazil left to support themselves during COVID-19: vulnerabilities, coping strategies, and recommendations for more inclusive crisis policies
26 July 2021
A version of this blog is available to read in Portuguese here. COVID-19 has brought huge change to society. However, the impacts have been different and disproportionate for different groups including LGBTIQ+ populations. As University of Manchester research has reported, there have been gaps in government and transnational responses in recognising and addressing those inequalities. […]
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The impact of COVID-19 on Rochdale’s Pakistani communities
20 July 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light increased health risks among groups labelled Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME), exposing many stark inequalities. Lockdown measures are impacting all aspects of life, but differentially impacting students and families from disadvantaged areas. Here, Dr Sophina Choudry, Professor Erica Burman, Professor Julian Williams, Sidra Iftikhar and Dr Yasmeen […]
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Hiding in plain sight: why are the UK and US keeping the transatlantic trade negotiations under wraps?
17 May 2021
In the current climate of political uncertainty, transparency is fundamental to the negotiation of the UK-US free trade agreement. Coupled with the economic ramifications of the pandemic, which has had a profound impact on both countries, transparency will play an integral role in legitimising the outcome of this agreement and its acceptance from a democratic […]
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Infodemic: tackling conspiracy theories on social media
29 March 2021
In February 2020 the Director-General of the World Health Organisation warned that “we’re not just fighting an epidemic; we’re fighting an infodemic,” because “fake news spreads faster and more easily than this virus, and is just as dangerous.” There has been large debate around ways to control the spread of misinformation and disinformation, especially on […]
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Children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing: moving towards evidence-based, data-driven responses
25 March 2021
As children and young people return to classroom education, schools have a vital role to play in assessing and supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Here, Professor Neil Humphrey from the Manchester Institute of Education argues that schools should routinely collect reliable mental health and wellbeing data, with which they can ‘build […]
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LGBTIQ+ experiences of COVID-19 in the UK and the need for more inclusive crisis policies
10 March 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide-ranging effects for people across the UK. However, some groups have felt the effects of the pandemic and its associated lockdowns more than others. In this blog, Dr Billy Haworth, from the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute, shares their recent research into the experiences of LGBTIQ+ populations during COVID-19. They […]
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The Levelling-up Budget?
4 March 2021
The Conservative Government’s 2019 general election manifesto included a promise to ‘listen to the people who have felt left behind’. There was also a commitment in the Budget 2020 to drive economic growth sustainably and improve living standards by boosting productivity and levelling up skills across the UK, along with future commitments to increase investment […]
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COVID-19 and social inequality: Developing community-centred interventions
22 February 2021
On January 13 2021, it was reported that more than 100,000 people had died from coronavirus in the UK, with the figure for that day alone being 1,546 deaths. The UK has one of the worst coronavirus mortality rates in the world, at 151 per 100,000 people but now the roll-out of the vaccination is […]
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