Blog Post Tackling Inequalities The Coronavirus pandemic and the cost of health The current Coronavirus pandemic has brought healthcare and science experts to the centre of public debate. Questions about rationing resources such as access to specialist healthcare, testing, and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) are being discussed daily. There has been talk of rationing access to beds and treatment, with Italian and Spanish frontline healthcare […] Read more Topics: Economy Health inequalities June 26, 2020
Blog Post Community Wellbeing Financial vulnerability in the pandemic: a dilemma for local authorities The Coronavirus pandemic has necessitated a shift in the way in which we, as a society, think about vulnerability. Historically, we have tended towards a moral definition of vulnerability, which gives rise to a set of obligations and duties which have been enshrined in legislation such as the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act, 2014 […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government June 24, 2020
Blog Post Environment and Net Zero Building back better: the importance of a green stimulus The Coronavirus pandemic-driven lockdown imposed across the UK has upended most aspects of day-to-day life. Whilst the economic cost of the lockdown is severe, one noticeable side-effect has been the impact of lockdown on the environment. Globally, CO2 emissions have reduced more as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic than from any other world event. […] Read more Topics: Economy Just Transition Net Zero June 17, 2020
Blog Post Environment and Net Zero Impact The implications of the Coronavirus pandemic for the Welsh economy The Coronavirus pandemic is having a profound and unprecedented impact on the Welsh economy – an economy already weakened by retrenchment and austerity in the public sector following the 2008 financial crisis, in addition to the challenges posed by leaving the European Union. The Coronavirus pandemic adds to these challenges and exposes existing vulnerabilities. Nonetheless, […] Read more Topics: Economy May 27, 2020
Blog Post Environment and Net Zero Governing the Just Transition In previous blog posts, we’ve considered what a just transition is and what such a transition might look like in Wales. In the final blog post of this series, we consider the potential role of governance in realising a Just Transition in Wales. Government is typically seen as the major authority in directing policy action. […] Read more Topics: Economy Just Transition Net Zero April 3, 2020
Blog Post Environment and Net Zero Towards a resilient economy In times of economic uncertainty attention often turns to the resilience of economies to shocks and downturns. As we grapple with the likely economic consequences of coronavirus, not to mention the longer-term implications of leaving the European Union, it is no wonder that thoughts turn to how to ensure our economy is resilient to any […] Read more Topics: Economy Just Transition March 25, 2020
Report Uncategorized Strengthening economic resilience In the face of economic uncertainty, policy makers are interested in how the economic resilience of economies might be strengthened. This report examines the evidence available to help inform policy debates in Wales. The Minister for Economy and Transport and the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport asked the Wales Centre for Public Policy to […] Read more Topics: Economy March 20, 2020
Blog Post Environment and Net Zero Delivering a Just Transition: What would it look like? In our previous blog we looked at why a just transition could be an equitable means of decarbonising the economy. This post looks in more detail at what this might look like in the Welsh context, and how different approaches to justice can facilitate a just transition. We have argued that a just transition should […] Read more Topics: Economy Just Transition Net Zero February 26, 2020
Blog Post Uncategorized Methods 5 things we learned about procurement The Wales Centre for Public Policy has been exploring the case for a more strategic approach to public procurement for nearly two years. In July 2018 we hosted an event that considered the lessons from the collapse of Carillion. Earlier this year we published reports on contracting, stewardship and public value and on sustainable public […] Read more Topics: Economy December 5, 2019
Blog Post Community Wellbeing The Preston Model: A panacea for Wales? Procurement is moving up the agenda. In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has advocated reforming procurement and procurement has been suggested as a way to bolster the foundational economy by Deputy Minister Lee Waters. The ‘Preston model’ has frequently been cited as an example of using public procurement for social good. But what is the […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government November 5, 2019