About the Policy Studies Institute

Policy Studies Institute (PSI) is one of Britain's leading research institutes, conducting research to promote economic well-being and improve quality of life. PSI enjoys a reputation for the rigorous and impartial evaluation of policy in the UK and Europe, and the publication and dissemination of research findings is central to our ethos.

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Latest news

New PSI report examines financial and employment needs of social housing tenants

Riverside Group, one of the UK's leading social landlords, commissioned PSI to conduct a study of their tenants in order to promote understanding of their needs and characteristics, particularly in relation to employment and financial management. Of concern is the scale of worklessness and poverty among tenants and the factors associated with unemployment, inactivity and financial exclusion, issues which can cause problems for both tenant and landlord.

The research report was launched on 30 June in Westminster. Read more about the project, and view the overview report, here

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New PSI briefing on green fiscal reform

A new briefing, produced by Policy Studies Institute and the environmental think tank Green Alliance, details the effects of changing the basis of aviation tax - along the lines indicated by the new coalition government - from a per-passenger duty to a per-plane duty. Such a change, the briefing argues, would incentivise airlines to increase plane occupancy and reduce the overall number of flights.

The briefing is part of follow-up research on green fiscal reform following the work of the Green Fiscal Commission to find area's where the Commission's finding could be implemented in the short term.

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New PSI research projects Independent Mobility as a Critical Aspect of Children’s Development and Quality Of Life This project will explore the issues surrounding children’s independent mobility – that is the degree to which children of different ages are allowed to travel and play outside unaccompanied by adults. It will explore how children’s independent mobility has changed over time, the causes of these changes and their implications for children’s personal and physical development and policy. Read on...

Daylight saving: is it time for change?

In 1993, PSI emeritus fellow Mayer Hillman (right) wrote an influential pamphlet, Time for Change, making the case for moving Britain's clocks forward one hour. The pamphlet has remained a touchstone in this recurring debate ever since.

With a new campaign, Lighter Later, bringing together a coalition of different groups that support a change for a variety of reasons from reducing carbon emissions to cutting accidents, and with growing interest from across the political spectrum, Mayer's pamphlet has never been more relevant. View a copy here.

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Back to ‘the future’: assessing Britain in 2010

In January 1991, the Policy Studies Institute cast its eyes towards the future by publishing an assessment of where Britain might be in 2010. The report attracted widespread media interest with the Guardian highlighting the anticipated ‘widening gap between rich and poor’ and the Times featuring the expectation of ‘tough action to cut emissions of greenhouse gases’. Within three years the UK government launched its Foresight programme which sought to incorporate forward thinking more explicitly into policy.

On 12 May 2010 at the RSA in London, contributors to the original report reflected on how it has stood up to the test of time in discussion with contemporary policy researchers.

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