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The long-term impacts outlined in this case study relate to low-paid women workers in health and local government sectors in the UK. Professor Carole Thornley undertook some of the earliest and most sustained academic research focusing on these workers. Through this she identified systematic undervaluation of their skills and competencies, as well as problems with training, career advancement, pay, and payment systems. The evidence from this research has been used in successive pay determination exercises and reviews of payment systems, valuation of skills, and to inform public policy. This has put these workers higher on the agenda of both unions and employers, informing their practice and leading to improvements in training and pay conditions.
Researchers within the University of Cumbria Centre for Regional Economic Development (CRED) have published work on themes relevant to local economic policy across the UK. The research has focused in particular on the ways in which local and regional policymakers can influence growth processes in local economies; both directly through public sector procurement, and indirectly by providing advice and support to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). This research has been funded by public sector bodies specifically to inform their strategies, and to provide a basis for local economic policies. The findings have impacted upon the procurement practices of local authorities by drawing attention to the barriers to SME involvement in public contracts. Research on the nuclear supply chain has also influenced the Business Plan of the Cumbria Local Economic Partnership (LEP), and has been used in evidence to the Public Accounts Committee, UK Parliament.
This case study captures the aftermath of the abolition of Regional Development Agencies and Government Offices in England after 2010. The research underpinning this case study analysed the shift from `regionalism' to `localism' in the North East of England and found that the abolition of the regional tier of governance in England did not invalidate the continuing need for multi-level policy coordination, networking and `voice' at the regional level. These findings, characterised as `Common-Sense Regionalism', directly led to the creation (by Central Government) of a Cross-Government Group of national and sub-national civil servants, representatives from local government and from the voluntary sector.
Our research has had a significant impact on economic policy formation. This impact is best exemplified by looking at two examples:
1) Safeguarding 10,000 jobs in Wales: providing the evidence base for the introduction of the ProAct.
2) Providing critical evidence to the debate initiated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2011 for more market facing pay for over 6 million public sector employees, which was subsequently abandoned in 2012 in part based as a consequence of our research findings.
The underlying research on regional and labour economics spans over two decades, involving the creation, since 2002, of 3 research centres (£2.4m to Swansea) which, through 50 reports, have impacted directly on policy.
This body of research, led by Plymouth University, has challenged the model used for NHS resource allocation because it does not promote `equal opportunity of access to health care for equal needs', a core principle of the NHS. The research has stimulated debate amongst policy makers on NHS resource allocation and the team's mental health estimates were used to allocate £8billion of NHS funding. The Department of Health described this as a "step-change improvement". Their research is also one of the factors which led to the end of the Four Block Model, the £29 billion formula grant at the centre of the local government finance system.
Research undertaken within the Centre for Research on Socio-Cultural Change (CRESC) since 2009, has been applied within Enfield Borough Council to change its economic renewal strategies from having a training and infrastructure focus, to one which focuses on re-building local supply chains, leading to job creation, and the re-investment of pension funds to fund the delivery of badly needed social housing. This change in policy has been achieved by encouraging major employers, such as utility companies, to think of corporate social responsibility in a more local frame; and the council to re-engineer financial flows from the local authority pension fund.
Swansea-led research on Thailand's universal healthcare coverage (UHC) reforms (1) helped change perceptions by showing researchers and policy makers in governmental and non-governmental organisations that UHC was viable in a lower-middle income country, (2) provided lessons about implementation challenges for other countries planning UHC reform, and (3) led to improved funding mechanisms in Thailand through the adoption of ring-fenced budgets for health centres and national priority services, and area-based commissioning. The study influenced the fine-tuning of Thailand's demand-side financing system to help develop a sustainable funding model that other aspiring UHC countries are emulating. Research recommendations were incorporated into the recent 10-Year Assessment of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), which informed the Thai government health sector plan for 2013-15.
A major challenge to economic policy and public sector governance is how to provide a sustainable economic basis for less prosperous localities and neighbourhoods. Research findings demonstrated the need for a greater focus upon enterprise and jobs at a sub-regional level and improved co-ordination and integration of governance arrangements in order to tackle this issue. These findings influenced the development of national and local government policy and practice towards the economic development of deprived areas from 2004 onwards. Impacts were evident through shaping a significant re-orientation in policy approaches towards deprived neighbourhoods as well as the development of specific policies and governance practice.
The Department of Health seeks to distribute the NHS budget to local commissioning organisations to achieve equal access for equal need and reduce health inequalities. The formula upon which it bases this distribution must be evidence-based, robust and up-to-date. We summarise four pieces of applied econometric research undertaken at the University of Manchester (UoM) and commissioned by the Department of Health that have developed the methodology for setting budgets fairly and determined the content of the formula in use in England from 2008-date. Adoption of the findings of this research by government has led to a substantial redistribution of NHS funding between areas.
Professor Maurice Sunkin's research on judicial review (JR) has established a comprehensive independent evidence base on the use, impact and operation of JR in England and Wales. This research has been used to inform policy debate, in some instances influencing policy decisions. The research was seminal to 2009 reforms enabling regional access to JR and has influenced the work of the English Law Commission, the Review of Civil Courts in Scotland and Lord Justice Jackson's report on Costs in Civil Litigation. Most recently it has informed multiple responses to the UK Government's proposals to reform JR and legal aid, and influenced the Ministry of Justice's report on those responses.