Research and analysis
We examine the questions that matter most for effective government.
Explore our research and analysis
Making press releases more political won’t improve how government communicates
A better approach to policy making is the best way to strengthen government communications.
Burnham will need to work hard to avoid his time being consumed by foreign affairs
The next prime minister should consider appointing a big hitter foreign secretary
Government must improve fraud prevention before the next crisis
Module five of the Covid inquiry shows the need for better procurement and use of data.
Andy Burnham can make his immediate mark on ethics in public life
The Ethics and Integrity Commission has provided Andy Burnham with a shopping list of options for improving integrity in public life.
Joining up SEND
How to begin fixing SEND by making the system more joined-up.
Government and academia: What Works Centres
The What Works Centres landscape remains heterogeneous, for better and for worse
Government and academia: Secondments
Secondment opportunities have become more frequent – but relatively few departments manage and run dedicated schemes
Government and academia: Expert networks
Officials working at pace benefit greatly from extensive expert networks, but access to them continues to be uneven
Government and academia: Areas of research interest (ARIs)
The ARI story is broadly positive, but it is not always clear what ARIs are for or what kinds of academic–policy engagement they enable
Government and academia: Advisory groups
Advisory groups come in different shapes and sizes – and departments need to choose wisely