The NatCen Blog

Here we’ll be talking about our research in the context of the latest news, opinion and
analysis through comments from our team of experts. We’d love to hear from you, so post comments or get in touch with us.

To keep up-to-date with our latest blog posts and reports, subscribe to our monthly newsletter. 

• Posted on 10 December 2021 by Isabel Taylor, Research Director

  “Help-seekers and multi-strugglers”: Who felt the worst mental and financial effects of the pandemic?

  When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK in early 2020, much of the country shut down to try to prevent people contracting and passing on the virus. This meant that the way we all lived and worked changed radically almost overnight.

  Read the rest of this entry

  Tags: COVID-19, economy, employment, financial insecurity, income, mental health

• Posted on 16 October 2018 by Sir John Curtice, Senior Research Fellow

  ‘Perhaps It’ll All be OK in the End?’ The Contrast in Perceptions of the Short-Term and Long-Term Economic Consequences of Brexit

  

  One of the persistent findings of the polling on attitudes towards Brexit – both before and since the referendum itself – has been that voters are more likely to think that Brexit will be bad for Britain’s economy than anticipate that it will be beneficial. However, there has also been some evidence that voters’ views on the economic consequences of Brexit depend on the time frame that they are invited to consider. 

  Read the rest of this entry

  Tags: Brexit, EU, EU Referendum, European Union, economy

• Posted on 24 April 2018 by Nancy Kelley, Deputy Chief Executive

  Does Britain want to stay in the EU customs union?

  

  The parliamentary passage of the Brexit bill remains stormy with Monday’s Lords vote in favour of an amendment to keep the UK in the EU customs union. The Commons get their chance to vote on this critical amendment on Thursday. 

  Read the rest of this entry

  Tags: Brexit, customs union, economy, free trade, politics

• Posted on 14 March 2018 by Katriina Lepanjuuri, Senior Researcher

  Nailing down the gig economy

  

  The trend of using online platforms to source and offer on-demand jobs and unused assets has grown substantially in the recent years, drawing more and more interest from all sides to the number of people employed in this sector and the practices within it.

  Read the rest of this entry

  Tags: economy, gig economy

• Posted on 19 February 2018 by Katriina Lepanjuuri, Senior Researcher

  Who's involved in the gig economy?

  

  Recently, NatCen have been lucky enough to carry out two really interesting studies into modern employment practices. Specifically, we have examined the ways in which these practices are facilitated by digital space and platforms focused on matching skills and assets with demand.

  Read the rest of this entry

  Tags: economy, employment, gig economy, income