Chart of the Week
Working with the Economic Research Council, the Adam Smith Institute is proud to bring you ‘Chart of the Week’ - a new educational initiative to explaining big stories with a single chart.
The Economic Research Council is the oldest economics think tank in the UK - it is committed to enhancing economic understanding and fostering inclusive debate.
Universal Credit: Health Caseload
Last week, the government announced plans for major reforms to address increasing economic inactivity and encourage more people back into work. At the heart of this is a significant rise in health-related benefit claims, specifically reflected in the recent growth of Universal Credit (UC) health caseloads.
Civil Service Employment Growth
Labour's recent announcement to substantially reform the UK Civil Service highlights growing concerns over bureaucracy, inefficiency, and effectiveness within the government workforce. Our analysis this week explores employment growth trends within the Civil Service from 2010 to 2024, presenting structural changes that provide valuable context for Labour's proposals.
Zero‐hour contracts in the UK from 2013 to 2024
This Chart of the Week examines the evolution of zero‐hour contracts in the UK from 2013 to 2024, revealing an unexpected trend where these flexible arrangements continue to grow despite a tightening labour market.
NATO Member Defence Spending
Recent debates over NATO’s 2% defence-spending target have become a focal point of transatlantic policy discussions.
Percentage of Population Surviving at Each Age
Past and projected mortality data reveals changes in life expectancy that carry significant implications for economic and public policy.