Bennett Institute research cited in House of Lords Briefing on productivity in public services.
Recent research on ‘Redefining Productivity in the Public Sector’ published by The Productivity Institute has been recommended as further reading by the UK House of Lords.
The briefing points out that productivity in the UK public sector has fallen sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic and has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Both the former Conservative government and the current Labour government have placed an emphasis on improving productivity in the public sector.
In the report, Lucy Hampton, Ayantola Alayande and Nina Jörden argue that boosting public sector productivity requires both practical measures and a clearer understanding of how it is defined and measured. Focusing solely on cost-cutting, without considering the unique structure of public services, has reached its limits. Sustainable gains need a long-term approach, including investment not just in digital tools but also in skills, culture and management practices.
It is encouraging to see the work recognised as a foundation for further discussions.
Report: Redefining public sector productivity
Blog: Redefining public sector productivity
The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy.
