CEP at 30 | Centre for Economic Performance

CEP celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2020 with a number of activities throughout the year, taking stock of the ground-breaking policy-focused research produced since 1990 and looking at the economic and social challenges ahead.

This is CEP - 30 years of research

For 30 years, the CEP has studied economic performance at all levels: people, firms, cities, nationally and globally. We ask how the economy works and how it can work better.

CEP Insights

The CEP Insights series is an introduction to the work of the Centre for Economic Performance since it was set up in 1990.

Video: CEP Insights - Gender in the workplace

Economists research the reasons for gender-based inequalities and evaluate which policies can help to close those gaps.

Video: CEP Insights - Immigration

People move to a new country for many reasons. How do these individual stories of seeking fresh opportunities play out over time both for those arriving and for the communities they move into?

Video: CEP Insights - Education

Economists investigate how education affects individuals and the society in which they live.

Move on up
Wed 09 June 2021 16:30 (online)

Stephen Machin explores the longer-term consequences for social mobility in the United Kingdom.

Image of snakes and ladders from CentrePiece, Autumn 2021. Credit: Raphael Whittle.

CentrePiece article: Move on up

Stephen Machin sets out what can be done to address the multitude of economic and social problems that make it more difficult for disadvantaged younger generations to 'move on up'.

Going for growth
Mon 08 Feb 2021 16:30 (online)

John Van Reenen sets out ways to increase growth during recovery from the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Illustration of a person watering a tree from CentrePiece, Summer 2021. Credit: Raphael Whittle.

CentrePiece article: Going for growth that's sustainable and equitable

John Van Reenen demonstrates how technological innovation and better management can bring about growth that is both inclusive and compatible with efforts to address the world's climate emergency.

Make wellbeing the goal
Thu 26 Nov 2020

In the inaugural 30th Anniversary CEP Lecture, Richard Layard asked if wellbeing can become the focus for social science and whether it could change policy priorities for a post-Covid world?

illustration of a smile made from the space between houses, Srping 2021. Credit: Raphael Whittle.

CentrePiece article: Build back happier

As society tries to recover from the coronavirus crisis, Richard Layard outlines the science of wellbeing and its implications for public policy.

Technology and the labour market
Wed 16 Dec 2020 17:45 (online)

A policy panel is being held, following a separate conference, to mark 10 years since Chris Pissarides received the Nobel Prize.

How will New Technology Affect the Future of Work?
LSE Festival

Many fear the impact of robots and AI on the demand for labour in the future. Alan Manning explains that techno-angst is nothing new and perhaps we can learn from the past what we need to worry about - and what we don't.

ESRC present Richard Layard with a lifetime achievement award

The award celebrates the outstanding contribution Lord Layard has made to social science and society in the UK and beyond.

CEP 30th anniversary essay prize winner

Congratulations to Vanessa Huang who impressed the judges with her essay on what would change if governments made happiness the only policy objective.