Comment & analysis

LUMS researchers provide opinion and expert analysis of today's key issues.
16/10/14

A look behind UK’s impressive unemployment figures shows they’re not so dazzling

Unemployment in the UK has fallen below two million for the first time in almost six years. Good news, says Geraint Johnes, but there are some important caveats to the headline figures.
25/09/14

Branson unlimited holiday plan for Virgin blazes trail others should follow

Cary Cooper argues that Virgin’s unlimited holiday offer to employees is something that other employers should copy.
18/09/14

Why Lord Hill’s role as EC finance commissioner is a poisoned chalice for Cameron

Robert Read says that Lord Hill, the new EU finance commissioner, may find himself at the heart of implementing legislation to which his government at home is opposed.
05/09/14

Hard Evidence: are more older people going to university?

At a time when more and more mature students are going into higher education, Dr Jill Johnes discusses what this rising trend in applications means for universities.
22/08/14

Funding cuts reduce options for teenagers forced to stay in education after GCSE

Geraint Johnes and Beth Foley argue that as reforms to the school leaving age kick in, it’s far from clear whether the reforms will be effective, as institutions responsible for the training provision face significant cuts to resources.
13/08/14

Eight year olds 'fear the effects' of student debt

With one in four children worrying about family finances, Professor Cary Cooper writes in The Telegraph, asking why these concerns have been passed down to such a young generation.
13/08/14

Longer working lives: challenges to individuals, employers and government

Geraint Johnes describes new research on ageing from the Work Foundation and LUMS which it is hoped will provide insights valuable for organisations and government.
18/07/14

Cost of student visa clampdown weighs heavily on colleges

Geraint Johnes says that targeting students and universities as part of a broader migration policy is neither appropriate nor innocuous.
07/07/14

US ideas have a disproportionate influence on business schools

David Collinson argues that the desire to publish in top, US-based journals has a homogenising effect on research.
12/06/14

Explosive London housing bubble will spread to the rest of the UK

Escalating house prices are no longer just a London quirk – research by a team of LUMS economists supports the view that the housing market is the biggest issue for the UK economy. 
10/06/14

Winning on points?

In the wake of recent EU election results Geraint Johnes assesses the government's immigration system and how we can move to a more informed debate.
04/06/14

Those crying Not Under My Back Yard must not call the shots on fracking

It's time for a dispassionate assessment of the risks of shale gas extraction and whether they can be managed, argues Mark Shackleton.
28/05/14

Five Chinese e-businesses on the rise, and one salutary tale

Entrepreneurial Chinese firms are blazing a trail online, and not just in China. Andrew Atherton looks at the opportunities and challenges for some of the country's upcoming e-businesses.
28/05/14

The productivity puzzle – real or imagined?

Productivity is now almost 20% below the long run trend. Geraint Johnes discusses a roundtable at the Work Foundation that identified issues likely to be key to a solution.
27/05/14

Bonus gravy on top

Are high-earners forgoing part of their salary in return for bonuses? Detailed research by Colin Green has found this is not the case – though the situation looks different for low-earners.
22/05/14

NEET hotspots – national improvement masks real issues for many places

The number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) has now fallen below a million. Geraint Johnes describes the broader regional patterns.
10/04/14

On a road to nothing, anywhere

Anthony Hesketh offers a salutary example of why competing on service requires the right people, with the right skills, in the right place at the right time.
10/03/14

Britain's economic future relies on seeking out the new

Birgitte Andersen, Director of the Big Innovation Centre and an honorary professor at LUMS, argues the case for innovation as the key driver of economic growth and social progress.
20/12/13

Why does Congress oppose gun laws backed by more than 90% of US citizens?

Maurizio Zanardi and colleagues show how electoral incentives might lead politicians to take a pro-gun stance, in line with the interests of a minority of the electorate.
09/12/13

WTO Bali deal offers more symbolism than substance

What do the WTO talks in Bali tell us about the future of the multilateral trading system and the WTO itself? Robert Read assesses the evidence.
05/12/13

How Islamic bank managers are levelling the playing field in the competition with conventional banking

Jill Johnes investigates the rise of Islamic banking and how it contributes to a secure and efficient banking system.
25/11/13

SMEs and business schools need closer working links

Moves to encourage collaboration between SMEs and business schools should not just focus on supporting the relatively few firms with the potential to become large global brands, argues Ellie Hamilton.
31/10/13

Self-driving cars: future or fantasy?

The technology may be advancing apace, but is the optimism over the advantages of driver-less cars warranted? Luis Araujo, Katy Mason and Martin Spring raise some important questions.
31/10/13

Pregnant presenteeism

Are pregnant women really more likely to take sick leave than other workers, as is widely believed? Caroline Gatrell's research reveals a different story – that some feel under pressure to remain at work when they are unwell.