New framework for measuring the value of social and cultural infrastructure will more effectively highlight its crucial role in improving wellbeing and economic growth.
A new report by the Bennett Institute for Public Policy emphasises the urgent need for policymakers to recognise social and cultural spaces – such as libraries, leisure centres, galleries, and community hubs – as essential infrastructure that contributes directly to economic growth and the reduction of social inequalities.
The report, Measuring Social and Cultural Infrastructure, was commissioned by the British Academy, and written by Dr Dimitrios Panayotopoulos-Tsiros, Owen Garling, Rosa Marks, Professor Anna Alexandrova, Professor Diane Coyle, and Professor Michael Kenny, at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge.
It introduces a brand-new framework for policymakers and partners to identify, measure, and safeguard these frequently undervalued community assets and the services they provide in a way not done before. The proposed framework ensures that both conventional and innovative forms of social and cultural infrastructure are accurately captured and properly recognised in policy decisions.
The report builds on previous research published by the two organisations which explores how social infrastructure can play a crucial role in supporting thriving communities, improving wellbeing and resilience, and addressing policy challenges such as regional inequalities.
The Bennett Institute will continue to collaborate with policymakers and partners to explore how the framework can be applied and developed to inform future interventions.
Professor Michael Kenny, Inaugural Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge, said:
“This report introduces a brand-new framework for identifying and measuring social and cultural infrastructure – assets that are vital to the social fabric of communities but often overlooked in policy and planning. It shows how this could provide help to a wide range of stakeholders – from policymakers and funders to researchers and community organisations – to map existing assets, understand better the needs of local communities, and make better decisions about which parts of a community’s infrastructure requires investment and support.”
Dominic Abrams FBA, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Kent and academic lead for the British Academy’s social and cultural infrastructure work, said:
“We all instinctively understand the value of community spaces like leisure centres, libraries, concert halls, and galleries, yet their true worth to society and the economy is often underestimated because we haven’t had robust ways to measure it.
“This new framework addresses that challenge by treating social and cultural infrastructure with the same seriousness we give to roads, bridges, or digital networks. By clearly articulating the impact these spaces have on wellbeing and economic vitality, we can ensure they receive the investment and protection they deserve. Ignoring their value risks undermining both social cohesion and economic growth at a time when both are critically important.”
Read the report: Measuring social and cultural infrastructure
Watch the video below:
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.
