Who Are We?

The Productivity Insights Network was established in January 2018 and is funded by the  Economic and Social Research Council. As a multi-disciplinary network of social science researchers engaged with public, private, and third sector partners, our aim is to change the tone of the productivity debate in theory and practice. It is led by the University of Sheffield, with co-investigators at the Cambridge Econometrics, Cardiff University, Durham University, Glasgow Caledonian University, SQW, University of Cambridge, University of Glasgow, University of Leeds, University of Strathclyde. For more information on our team click here.

How We Work?

Our three year programme of work to December 2020 aims to provide new insights on the productivity puzzle in the UK. We are committed to growing the Productivity Insights Network through the participation of academic, public, private, and third sector partners who bring new insights to the productivity debate – for more information on joining the network click here.

The work programme of the Productivity Insights Network is designed to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and the engagement of academic and non-academic partners. There are three core streams of activity that are being developed, they are:

  • Core Work Programme:

This work stream will be led by the core Productivity Insights Network team. As well as undertaking reviews of the existing evidence base and identifying opportunities for new directions in interdisciplinary research, the core team will develop new thematic, place and sector-based insights on the productivity puzzle.

  • Open Research Work Programme: 

As an open network the Productivity Insights Network will invite proposals to undertake research that advances or explores new directions in productivity research in conjunction with key user communities. There will be calls for small project funding to be undertaken by individuals and/or interdisciplinary teams to address research gaps and emerging research priorities.

  • Responsive Work Programme: 

As well as open funding calls, the Productivity Insights Network is working closely with HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Working with the wider network the core team will respond to requests with briefings developed  on a real time basis.