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CEP Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

Aims
The Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) carries out policy-focused research on the drivers of economic growth and effective ways to create a fair, inclusive and sustainable society. CEP provides a high-quality environment for applied economic research. Central to this is a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and this strategy aims to embed a culture of inclusion throughout the Centre, ensuring that everyone interacting with CEP feels safe, welcome and valued.

Our EDI priorities are:

  • CEP Community: to support and develop a diverse CEP community, and prevent any form of discrimination, harassment and victimisation made against any member.
  • CEP Research: to serve as a role model in the field of economics by highlighting equity, diversity and inclusion in our research and policy recommendations, and to ensure our work is widely accessible.
  • CEP Events: to encourage a stimulating and supportive environment for academic and public debate and to make CEP a welcoming and inclusive place for all staff and visitors.

Framework
CEP follows LSE 2030 strategy and LSE policies and guidelines, (including EDI policy). The CEP EDI strategy identifies areas for additional action to complement and extend these institutional policies.

CEP EDI strategy is reviewed annually by the EDI committee: EDI Lead; CEP Research Director; Centre Manager (HR); CEP Head of Public Affairs and Communications; Member of research staff; Member of faculty; PhD student.

The Policy is supported by a 3-year action plan (2023-2026).

Context
Economics has an equality and diversity problem: in 2018, just 26% of academic economists in the UK were women, and only 8% of academic posts were held by women from ethnic minority backgrounds (Read more in 'The Gender Imbalance in UK Economics' from the Royal Economic Society).

The Institute for Fiscal Studies reports large differences in representation across various ethnic groups, which tend to be larger at the most research-intensive (Russell Group) universities - while 50% of white academic economists work in these institutions, they employ less than 30% of Pakistani and Bangladeshi, and less than 20% of Black academic economists.(Read more in 'Ethnic diversity in UK economics' from the Institute for Fiscal Studies).

The CEP, a research centre in the social sciences since 1990 and one of the two inaugural ESRC institutes, is determined to address these challenges and provide leadership in this field. We aim to do this by development and implementation of our EDI strategy.

We want to make an impact in the public domain and in the field of applied economics research, and this starts with our practices locally.

CEP Community: to support and develop a diverse CEP community, and prevent any form of discrimination, harassment and victimisation made against any member.


CEP community refers to research staff, associates (both LSE and external faculty), support staff, PhD students, summer interns and visiting academics. CEP manages the recruitment and employment of research staff (pre- and post-doctoral), support staff and summer interns. LSE academic departments manage recruitment and employment of LSE faculty and PhD students.

CEP invites associates to join the Centre on an ongoing basis; and invites visitors with related interests.

Areas where CEP can take positive action with EDI initiatives
  • Promoting an inclusive research environment.
  • Ensuring fair recruitment and retention practices for CEP employed researchers and support staff.
  • Eliminating barriers that hinder advancement for colleagues.
  • Building internal and external networks that support and develop people with protected characteristics in their careers.
  • Promoting diversity in leadership in the field.

CEP Research: to serve as an EDI role model in the field of economics by highlighting equity, diversity and inclusion in our research and policy recommendations, and ensuring our work is widely accessible.


CEP is recognised as a global centre of excellence by its main funder, the ESRC, and has official ESRC Research Institute status. CEP communicates its work to a diverse range of audiences. It does this through the website, social media, newsletters and CentrePiece magazine.

Areas where CEP can take positive action with EDI initiatives
  • Strengthening research on EDI issues in the Centre's core research areas, such as labour markets, education and skills, and social mobility.
  • Supporting initiatives to further research of EDI issues in the economics profession.
  • Raising awareness of, and supporting research project applications to, EDI-specific research calls.
  • Promoting participation in EDI-specific research networks.
  • Reflecting and promoting diversity in our research communications.

CEP Events: to encourage a stimulating and supportive environment for academic and public debate and to make CEP a welcoming and inclusive place for all staff and visitors.


Events bring together the CEP community and the wider public. They include public lectures, panel discussions, academic seminars, masterclasses, workshops, conferences, internal annual conference, receptions, dinners and staff social events. Events may be organised by CEP or co-sponsored by CEP.

Areas where CEP can take positive action with EDI initiatives
  • Embedding EDI considerations in event organisation.
  • Ensuring a diverse range of speakers at all public events and in our seminar series.
  • Encouraging active participation from diverse audience members.
  • Holding and promoting public events on diversity topics, such as workshops for women economists.
  • Monitoring effectiveness of the CEP Events Code of Conduct.