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Research carried out at Newcastle has developed the understanding of the economic value of the risks to human life across a range of public services, especially transport and health. The model pioneered at Newcastle changed the way in which the risk to human life is calculated. Rather than simply calculating the loss of economic output as a result of injury or death, it takes into account individuals' `willingness to pay' in order to reduce mortality risk. The model has dominated the terms of UK policy discussion in areas in which safety is a central concern. The research has directly shaped the development of government policy and associated guidelines for a range of departments and organisations, particularly through its inclusion in the HM Treasury Green Book.
A sustained programme of epidemiological research at St George's, spanning 20 years, has informed air pollution control policies in the UK and internationally. Time-series studies of the acute health effects of daily fluctuations in air pollutants, initially in London, were extended to Europe-wide collaborations, trans-Atlantic comparisons and studies in Asian cities. Publication bias has been explored systematically in meta-analyses of published time-series results, and the adverse effects of different particulate fractions compared in a UK setting. This evidence base has contributed substantially to the current UK Air Quality Strategy and informs ongoing debates about health impacts of shorter-lived "greenhouse" pollutants.
Sustained research in the field of advanced survey design, advanced analysis of complex survey data and the study of public opinion has enabled Professor Cees van der Eijk to make a unique and vital contribution to the work of the Cabinet Office's Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL). As an independent public body that advises government on ethical standards across public life in the UK, CSPL has drawn upon Van der Eijk's methodological innovation in data analysis as well as his systematic research to inform its policy recommendations to government. These recommendations have helped to shape policy on matters of public probity, voter registration, MPs' expenses and political party finance. His research for the CSPL has also influenced other independent organisations and the wider public debate on integrity in public life.
Research at Lancaster has had significant, cumulative impacts on public sector thinking about, and approaches to, public involvement in health policy, practice and research locally, nationally and internationally. As a result the public in the UK and internationally is now significantly better engaged in influencing health policy and practice, in particular those from disadvantaged communities, leading to improved health and wellbeing, and enhanced employability. This research shaped the network of NHS Patient and Public Involvement Forums established in England 2003-2007, and reframed how social exclusion and vulnerability were addressed in the report of the Global Commission on The Social Determinants of Health (Marmot report) and the WHO EURO Health 2020 Strategy.
There is strong policy interest in more effective ways to increase citizen engagement, including time contributions and the donation of goods. Research undertaken at the University of Manchester (UoM) has stimulated debate around localism and the `Big Society', directly influencing central and local government policy. Specifically, the research has shaped debates on the role of `nudge' mechanisms in the generation of the `civic goods' that underpin effective public service delivery, with impact demonstrated in two ways. Firstly, documenting and mobilising civic participation (volunteering and donations) through the use of innovative field experiments, including Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs). Secondly, demonstrating an influence on policymakers through clear illustrations of the rigorous and scalable methodologies that underpin the research.