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Resolution Foundation @resfoundation

The Resolution Foundation is an independent think-tank dedicated to lifting living standards in the UK.

Joined August 2009
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šŸ“¢ New opportunity alert We are looking for a motivated and experienced individual to join the Resolution Ventures team. Play a key role in the social investment activities of the Foundation and the management of the WorkerTech Fund. Details here šŸ‘‰ buff.ly/J6cXCOK
Graphic promoting new job vacancy: We're hiring Senior or Principal Investment Manager Play a key role in the management of the WorkerTech Fund Apply by 08.59am on 23rd June Ā£56,990- Ā£82,900

ALT Graphic promoting new job vacancy: We're hiring Senior or Principal Investment Manager Play a key role in the management of the WorkerTech Fund Apply by 08.59am on 23rd June Ā£56,990- Ā£82,900

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šŸšØBook launch - Money: The Inside StoryšŸšØ In their new book, Bank of England economists Rupal Patel and Jack Leslie pull back the curtain on how money is supposed to work, what happens when it doesnā€™t, and where it might be going next. Join us to discuss next weekāž”ļø buff.ly/4AHXEJU
Poster for the event Money talks Book launch event for Money: The Inside Story by Rupal Patel and Jack Leslie Tuesday 16 June 2026 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm At the Resolution Foundation.

ALT Poster for the event Money talks Book launch event for Money: The Inside Story by Rupal Patel and Jack Leslie Tuesday 16 June 2026 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm At the Resolution Foundation.
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How does the comparison between non-pensioner welfare and defence spending look? Since defence spendingā€™s recent peak in the mid-80s, non-pensioner welfare has grown from around 4.8.% of GDP to 5.1% now. Non-pensioner welfare is now about the level of the mid-90s. Moreāž”ļø buff.ly/lc6ZVP4
the chart is a comparison of how non-pensioner welfare, properly measured, and defence spending looks. Since defence spendingā€™s recent peak in the mid-80s, non-pensioner welfare has grown from around 4.8.% of GDP to 5.1% now. Importantly, non-pensioner welfare is now about the level of the mid-90s, below its GFC peak, but has seen some rise from its level immediately pre-pandemic.

ALT the chart is a comparison of how non-pensioner welfare, properly measured, and defence spending looks. Since defence spendingā€™s recent peak in the mid-80s, non-pensioner welfare has grown from around 4.8.% of GDP to 5.1% now. Importantly, non-pensioner welfare is now about the level of the mid-90s, below its GFC peak, but has seen some rise from its level immediately pre-pandemic.

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In our latest substack, Ruth Curtice takes a closer look at the 'defence versus welfare spending' debate, and explains why it's important we have a clear picture of how we spent the peace dividend while it was around. ā¤µļø buff.ly/lc6ZVP4
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As debates rage about where to get the money for higher defence spending, itā€™s important we have a clear picture of how we spent the peace dividend while it was around. It was surprising to see a chart on BBC Verify yesterday highlighting that ā€œdefence spending has fallen as welfare spending has risenā€. It didnā€™t look quite right so we took a closer look....Threadā¤µļø
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In truth, the peace dividend has been spent on the entire welfare state, not working-age social security. In recent decades the most dramatic increases have been in health. Since 1980, health spending has risen by 4.5% of GDP. Funding also came from low debt interest costs that have also recently reversed.
In recent decades the most dramatic increases have been in health. Since 1980, health spending has risen by 4.5% of GDP. Funding also came from low debt interest costs that have also recently reversed.

ALT In recent decades the most dramatic increases have been in health. Since 1980, health spending has risen by 4.5% of GDP. Funding also came from low debt interest costs that have also recently reversed.

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So you can say that ā€œdefence spending has fallen while welfare has risenā€ if youā€™re clear what you mean by ā€œwelfareā€. Health and education are part of the welfare state, and they are classified as ā€˜benefits-in-kindā€™ by the ONS. But letā€™s face it, thatā€™s not what politicians mean when they call for welfare to be cut to fund defence.
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In our latest podcast episode, Sarah O'Connor spoke to us about the different stories of work and automation she encountered while writing her new book. You can listen to this and all episodes of High Resolution ā¬‡ļø On Spotify: buff.ly/FaL0UnP On Apple Podcasts: buff.ly/jSScLPN
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Is there an alternative path to the poorly designed and less effective than hoped triple lock? In Chart of the Week, we consider alternative uprating mechanisms and what they would have meant for pension values. That and more in Top of the Charts hereāž”ļø buff.ly/YdqarcE
For Chart of the week, we consider alternative uprating mechanisms and what they would have meant for pension values. A smoothed earnings link (the dotted blue line) ā€“ still a much more generous deal than for working-age benefits ā€“ would have left the state pension Ā£12.30 per week higher in real terms in 2026-27 than in 2011-12.

ALT For Chart of the week, we consider alternative uprating mechanisms and what they would have meant for pension values. A smoothed earnings link (the dotted blue line) ā€“ still a much more generous deal than for working-age benefits ā€“ would have left the state pension Ā£12.30 per week higher in real terms in 2026-27 than in 2011-12.

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Why are the 13 million lower-income families across the country ā€“ a group we call ā€˜Unsung Britainā€™ ā€“ so frustrated? Because they are working more than ever, and yet their living standards have stagnated over the past two decades. Listen to Ruth Curtice on The Policy Fix podcast āž”ļø buff.ly/PYSy5Rd
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This month, we got new data on union membership, and for our Chart of the week we've taken a closer look. Union membership has declined over the past decades, but the latest data hints that this decline might be slowing Read Top of the charts šŸ‘‰ buff.ly/9JCInp0
Chart showing trade union membership rate among all in employment by age cohort

ALT Chart showing trade union membership rate among all in employment by age cohort
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Higher participation in education ā€“ including combined with work ā€“ is how low-NEET countries achieve lower NEET rates than the UK. Read more on how we can help more you people in the UK to learn and earn in our latest Substack: buff.ly/pceWB6X
Chart showing proportion of 18-24-year-olds who are participating in education or work measured relative to the UK: OECD countries, 2024 countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany

ALT Chart showing proportion of 18-24-year-olds who are participating in education or work measured relative to the UK: OECD countries, 2024 countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany

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State Pension spending accounts for nearly half of the projected increase in social security spending by 2029-30. It is not fiscally sustainable for the State Pension to rise forever by more than the earnings of a typical worker. Read more in our latest report on the Triple Lockāž”ļø buff.ly/FY93tV6
chart showing that State Pension spending accounts for nearly half of the projected increase in social security spending by 2029-30. Of a total Ā£30.5bn social security spending, the state pension is projected to be Ā£13.8bn, with Ā£2.2bn spent on pensioner other.

ALT chart showing that State Pension spending accounts for nearly half of the projected increase in social security spending by 2029-30. Of a total Ā£30.5bn social security spending, the state pension is projected to be Ā£13.8bn, with Ā£2.2bn spent on pensioner other.

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šŸšØBook launch - Money: The Inside StoryšŸšØ In their new book, Bank of England economists Rupal Patel and Jack Leslie pull back the curtain on how money is supposed to work, what happens when it doesnā€™t, and where it might be going next. Join us to discuss next weekāž”ļø buff.ly/4AHXEJU
Poster for the event Money talks Book launch event for Money: The Inside Story by Rupal Patel and Jack Leslie Tuesday 16 June 2026 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm At the Resolution Foundation.

ALT Poster for the event Money talks Book launch event for Money: The Inside Story by Rupal Patel and Jack Leslie Tuesday 16 June 2026 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm At the Resolution Foundation.
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ā€˜China has always been a big challengeā€™ In our recent podcast episode, @ChadBown talks about the structural challenge China now presents to the world trading system. Listen below or search 'High Resolution' wherever you get your podcasts šŸ‘‡ buff.ly/pGuL25H
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Over the past two decades, pensioner incomes have grown by 20 per cent, while those of working-age families have grown by just 7 per cent. Given these trends, surely it is time to include the Triple Lock in debates around stemming the growth in welfare spending? āž”ļø buff.ly/FY93tV6
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šŸ“¢ New opportunity alert We are looking for a motivated and experienced individual to join the Resolution Ventures team. Play a key role in the social investment activities of the Foundation and the management of the WorkerTech Fund. Details here šŸ‘‰ buff.ly/J6cXCOK
Graphic promoting new job vacancy: We're hiring Senior or Principal Investment Manager Play a key role in the management of the WorkerTech Fund Apply by 08.59am on 23rd June Ā£56,990- Ā£82,900

ALT Graphic promoting new job vacancy: We're hiring Senior or Principal Investment Manager Play a key role in the management of the WorkerTech Fund Apply by 08.59am on 23rd June Ā£56,990- Ā£82,900

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