A Better Beginning: Easing the cost of childcare
This paper proposes an entirely new policy - a National Childcare Contribution Scheme – to help parents manage the high costs of childcare over a number of years.
Poverty and Social Mobility
Disconnected - Social Mobility and the Creative Industries
The creative industries are a key driver of Britain's economic growth. But currently the creative workforce suffers from poor social representation. A range of experts – Alan Milburn, Sir Win Bischoff, Stephen Overell, David Johnston and Paul Collard – offer their thoughts on why social mobility is so low in the creative industries, and how policymakers and the industry can improve it. Particular focus is given to the role of unpaid internships and what policymakers should turn their focus towards in the future.
Childcare Vouchers: Who Benefits? An Assessment of Evidence from the Family Resources Survey
The Government introduced tax relief on childcare vouchers in 2005 to provide greater childcare support for parents. In recent months, the role of childcare vouchers has come under intense scrutiny, and the Government has pledged to reduce the tax relief available to higher rate taxpayers from 2011. But the debate around this issue has been characterized by a lack of evidence on who actually uses childcare vouchers.
Bridging Differences - What Communities and Government Can do to Foster Social Capital
Immigration is one of the most controversial political questions of the day. While some argue for the economic and social benefits of immigration, many people are concerned that it poses a threat to their way of life. Policy-makers need to respond to these concerns because no matter whether they are real or perceived, the unease is very real and presents a barrier to social cohesion. This reports looks at community organisations in Birmingham, London, Madrid and New York.
AntiSocial Britain and the Challenge of Citizenship
AntiSocial Britain is critical of politicians of all parties for attempting - and failing - to appease consumerism instead of arguing for citizenship, and for accepting a range of social responsibilities which they cannot fulfil.
The Politics of Aspiration
The Politics of Aspiration brings together valuable contributions from Jim Murphy MP, Trevor Phillips, Chair, Commission for Equality and Human Rights, Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks and several other commentators and academics o¬n the importance of aspiration as a driving force in ending poverty and increasing social mobility in the UK.
The Regional Casinos Debate: Regeneration and responsible gambling in the UK
This publication, the result of a conference convened by the Social Market Foundation in July 2006, brings together some of the most expert and considered voices in the field to explore the contentious issues around the major themes dominating the regional casino debate: regeneration and responsible gambling.
A Modern Agenda for Prosperity and Social Reform: Opportunity, Security, Prosperity
This pamphlet is a speech delivered to the Social Market Foundation on February 3rd 2003 by Gordon Brown, in which he sets out his agenda for prosperity and social reform.
