Institute for Public Policy Research

Institute for Public Policy Research
Type Progressive think tank
Headquarters 14 Buckingham Street, WC2N 6DF
Location London, England
Director Nick Pearce
Website www.ippr.org

The IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research) is the leading progressive thinktank in the UK. It produces research and policy ideas committed to upholding values of social justice, democratic reform and environmental sustainability. IPPR is based in London and IPPR North has branches in Newcastle and Manchester.

It was founded in 1988. The founding director was James Cornford.[1] ] The current director is Nick Pearce [1], a former Head of the No. 10 Policy Unit and special advisor to David Blunkett MP. Former members of staff include the current pensions minister Liberal Democrat MP Steve Webb and former Labour cabinet ministers Patricia Hewitt and David Miliband.

The Institute edits a quarterly journal called Public Policy Research (PPR, formerly New Economy), published by Blackwell, which features articles from academics and politicians.

IPPR is an independent registered charity. Funding comes from the following:

Contents

Policy areas

The institute undertakes research in the following areas:[2]

  • Assets and wealth
  • Children and families
  • Climate change and environment
  • Crime and justice
  • Democracy, power and citizenship
  • Economy and business
  • Education
  • Health and social care
 
  • Housing
  • International, security and human rights
  • Migration and integration
  • Political ideas
  • Transport
  • Welfare and poverty

Influential research

In the mid-1990s, the IPPR was best known for its Commission on Social Justice, which provided the basis for many of the policies of the New Labour government that came to power in 1997, including the New Deal. One of IPPR's first policy ideas was congestion charging which was subsequently introduced by Ken Livingstone. Child Trust Funds were first conceived by the IPPR in 2000 and were subsequently adopted by the government in 2005.[3]

The IPPR is a founding member and the acting secretariat of the Global Climate Network, an alliance of influential think-tanks and research institutes working on climate change policy in nine countries, including the USA, China, India and South Africa.

Trustees

IPPR's trustees are:[4]

References

  1. ^ Andrew Denham and Mark Garnett (2006) 'What works'? British think tanks and the 'end of ideology', The Political Quarterly 77(2), pp. 156-165
  2. ^ "IPPR research themes". Institute for Public Policy Research. http://www.ippr.org/research/themes/. Retrieved 2008-08-14. 
  3. ^ IPPR About ippr: Influence on policy, accessed 16 September 2006
  4. ^ "Trustees". IPPR. http://www.ippr.org/aboutippr/?id=16. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 

External links