Designing for Healthy Cognitive Ageing Project: Professional Perspectives on Housing Data, 2021-2023

The aim of the data collection was to ascertain the views of professionals in the housing field about designing homes for healthy cognitive ageing. 22 professional were included in the study, recruited by snowball sampling. The data archive holds transcripts of 19 interviews with professionals in the housing field about their views on and experiences of designing homes for healthy cognitive ageing. One of these is a group interview with four participants. The archive also include an information sheet and consent form for participants and a topic guide for the interviews.As we age, many of us will experience cognitive changes, and for some of us, these will develop into dementia. We know that people's homes can make the experience of cognitive changes more difficult, or can enable continuing inclusion and sense of self-worth and self-esteem. DesHCA worked with people experiencing ageing and cognitive change and those who design and develop housing. DesHCA identified housing innovations that can support living better for longer with cognitive change. Our emphasis on healthy cognitive ageing goes beyond narrow conceptions of 'dementia-friendly design' into a more expansive and inclusive approach to housing innovation. The multidisciplinary DesHCA team involved stakeholders from all areas of housing provision, including people experiencing ageing and cognitive change, architects and designers, housing experts, planners, builders and housing providers. Older people were integral to DesHCA and their health was at its heart. The project designed homes that act as demonstrators and test-beds for innovations to support healthy cognitive ageing. These designs have been developed and evaluated from stakeholder points of view, then considered at a larger scale to examine their real-world feasibility. DesHCA is feeding directly into the UK and Scottish Government City Region Deal for Central Scotland (Stirling and Clackmannanshire), providing groundwork for local housing developments. The focus of this is sustainable, lifetime health, community and economic development, addressing deprivation and inequality. To achieve these aims, DesHCA took a co-production approach, with the whole team working to identify innovations that engage with their real-world experiences and aspirations. We used a range of data collection methods and produced analyses informed the design of the demonstrator houses. These designs evolved as stakeholders interacted with them and provided feedback from their different points of view. To collect data, we asked older people to map and evaluate their own homes and to experience and comment on new design features using virtual reality (VR). They then collaborated with builders, architects and housing providers in VR workshops to identify practical, realistic and affordable designs that can support healthy cognitive ageing, and therefore longer healthy, independent life. Partners came together in interactive workshops to convert designs into plans within a fictional town, building and retrofitting homes, creating services and managing budgets. We demonstrated how designs can work out in the real world, and how to bring together the various interests involved. Throughout, issues of costs were considered, to inform business planning and help make decisions on implementation of the new designs. The impact of DesHCA is achieved through showing what works in housing design for healthy cognitive ageing. Immediately, DesHCA will feed into the City Region Deal and longer term we will provide tools for future developers to inform their decisions about housing for healthy cognitive ageing. Throughout the project, disseminate findings were distributed to the housing, architecture and building sectors through stakeholder networks. We have published rigorous research findings to provide a peer reviewed, high quality research base for innovation. Thus the project goes beyond recommendations and guidance to provide evidence to support delivery at scale, grounded in the co-production approach that draws on the real experience, interests and imperatives that drive different stakeholders. DesHCA's multidisciplinary team built capacity among early career researchers in research leadership, working across disciplines such as architecture and planning, economics, sociology and across sectors with a range of different industrial and professional stakeholders, such as housing workers, planners and construction companies.</p

Growing Up in Scotland: Cohort 1: Sweep 1, 2005-2006: Special Licence Access

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) study is a large-scale longitudinal social survey which follows the lives of several groups of Scottish children from infancy through childhood and adolescence. It aims to provide important information on children, young people and their families in Scotland. The study forms a central part of the Scottish Government's strategy for the long-term monitoring and evaluation of its policies for children and young people, with a specific focus on the early years. The study seeks both to describe the characteristics, circumstances and experiences of children in their early years in Scotland and, through its longitudinal design, to generate a better understanding of how children's start in life can shape their longer term prospects and developmentSince 2005 fieldwork has been undertaken by the Scottish Centre for Social Research. The survey design for Birth Cohort 1 consisted of recruiting the parents of an initial total of 5,217 children aged 10 months old in 2005 and interviewing them annually until their child reached age six. Further fieldwork was then undertaken at ages 8, 10, 12, 14 and 17-18 with a sample boost added at age 12.Data for sweeps 1-9 were collected via an in-home, face-to-face interview with self-complete sections. Fieldwork for sweep 10 was disrupted due to the COVID pandemic. As a result, the final portion of the data was collected via web and telephone questionnaires. Sweep 11 data were gathered via web, telephone and face-to-face surveys of cohort members and their parent/carer.Further information about the survey may be found on the&nbsp;Growing Up in Scotland&nbsp;website.In May 20205, data and documentation for Cohort 1, Sweeps 1-11 were released as individual studies (SNs 9373-9383 and 9386-9387). Previously they were held under one study (SN 5760) which has been withdrawn from the data catalogue.Main Topics:The questionnaire covered the following topics:household information&nbsp;non-resident parents and non-resident children&nbsp;the pregnancy and birththe first few monthscurrent situationparental supportparenting styles and activitiesparenting responsibilitieschildcarechild health and development&nbsp;self-completion section&nbsp;own employment, income and education&nbsp;partner's employment, income and education&nbsp;accommodationA topic overview&nbsp;covering all sweeps, is available on the GUS website.</div

Digital Technology Adoption in UK Manufacturing Firms, 2024

This project investigates the factors that encourage or hinder digital technology adoption among UK manufacturing firms. Through interviews with industry stakeholders, the study found that efficiency, productivity, sustainability, and workforce development are key motivators for adopting digital tools such as predictive maintenance systems, real-time data analytics, and 3D modeling. These technologies enhance decision-making, reduce operational costs, and help firms meet environmental and regulatory demands. However, many manufacturers—particularly small and medium-sized enterprises—remain hesitant due to implementation risks, uncertain returns, and high costs of advanced systems. Challenges such as fragmented systems, security concerns, and insufficient post-adoption support further impede adoption.This project draws on the classic Bass innovation diffusion theory to develop a model that captures the diffusion processes of digital technologies within the UK manufacturing industry. To attain these objectives, this project conducted in interviews involving manufacturing enterprises, industry experts, and digital technology providers to understand the current barriers and enablers of digital technology adoption in UK manufacturing industry.</p

Maladaptive Cognition in Depression, 2022

This project aims to improve our understanding of the maladaptive cognitions driving depressive symptoms. To gain a more mechanistic understanding of the neurocognitive bases of (mal)adaptive cognition, we will leverage computational models of behaviour. This overarching goal will be achieved by conceptualising maladaptive depressive cognition as maladaptive attributions. To test this we will measure: (a) biases in the attribution of positive and negative events to the self vs. external causes; (b) biases in the metacognitive evaluations of decision confidence and their potential misattribution to action-outcome learning. Using cutting-edge analysis methods, across online, clinical, and neuroimaging studies, this project will achieve the following objectives: 1. Clarify the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying adaptive attribution (of external events and of metacognitive signals), in healthy participants. 2. Identify behavioural markers of maladaptive attribution related to depressive symptoms in a non-clinical sample. 3. Test the specificity of markers of maladaptive attribution to depressive symptoms, relative to other common mental health problems. 4. Test the clinical relevance of markers of maladaptive attribution.CONTEXT Depression is the single leading cause of disability worldwide and a major public health problem. Even with the best treatments, around 30% of patients remain unwell, demonstrating the importance of improving our understanding of depression. Decades of research in clinical psychology suggests that vulnerability to depression is associated with negative cognitive styles, such as attributing negative events to stable and global causes, often blaming oneself, and maladaptive metacognitive beliefs (about one's own cognitive processes), such as low self-confidence. These biases are a focus of psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), but the assessment of maladaptive depressive cognition is limited by imprecise measurement, relying on introspection and self-report. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This project aims to improve our understanding of the maladaptive cognitions driving depressive symptoms. To gain a more mechanistic understanding of the neurocognitive bases of (mal)adaptive cognition, we will leverage computational models of behaviour. This overarching goal will be achieved by conceptualising maladaptive depressive cognition as maladaptive attributions. To test this we will measure: (a) biases in the attribution of positive and negative events to the self vs. external causes; (b) biases in the metacognitive evaluations of decision confidence and their potential misattribution to action-outcome learning. Using cutting-edge analysis methods, across online, clinical, and neuroimaging studies, this project will achieve the following objectives: 1. Clarify the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying adaptive attribution (of external events and of metacognitive signals), in healthy participants. 2. Identify behavioural markers of maladaptive attribution related to depressive symptoms in a non-clinical sample. 3. Test the specificity of markers of maladaptive attribution to depressive symptoms, relative to other common mental health problems. 4. Test the clinical relevance of markers of maladaptive attribution. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS AND BENEFITS Improving our understanding of the mechanisms that drive maladaptive cognition in depression, and underpin attributional processes in healthy participants, will constitute an important scientific contribution to the fields of clinical psychology and cognitive and computational neuroscience. Given the high societal cost of depression, this research is of high societal and clinical relevance. Disseminating our findings to the wider society will demonstrate how a better understanding of basic cognitive processes may translate to understanding everyday behaviour. Presenting our project and findings to people with mental health problems, including service users, will allow receiving their feedback on our experimental designs and findings, and help broaden the perspective for future research. The work will also be regularly disseminated to academic audiences, through publications and conferences, across the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and mental health. Engaging with clinical experts, by organising an interdisciplinary workshop, will help increase our clinical impact, establish novel collaborations, and receive expert feedback. Identifying behavioural and neural markers related to maladaptive cognition in depression offers a unique opportunity to develop novel tools that may subsequently help to refine differential diagnosis and improve treatment selection, as well as provide a foundation for the development of novel psychological interventions.</p

New Arenas for Civic Expansion: Humans, Animals and Artificial Intelligence, 2020-2024

This project involved cross-national qualitative research which explored what factors shape individualism, and human and non-human relations in civil society, with reference to animal rights and welfare, and artificial intelligence. Interviews were carried out to explore the framing of animal rights and animal welfare in Civil Society Organisations’ advocacy and campaigning materials in order to understand how they express and reflect civil society views on animal rights and animal welfare. We specifically explored how they seek to recast and challenge traditional conceptions of civil society to take fuller account of human and non-human relations. For animal rights and artificial intelligence, interviews were conducted in Civil Society Organisations in the United Kingdom. Further interviews were conducted on animal rights in Non-Governmental Organisations in India.WISERD celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Over time it has grown into an international research institute that develops the next generation of research leaders. Our research brings together different disciplines (geographers, economists, sociologists, data scientists, political scientists) to address important issues for civil society at national and international levels. Our social science core provides a strong foundation for working with other disciplines including environmental science, engineering and medicine to transform our understanding and approaches to key areas of public concern. Our aim is to provide evidence that informs and changes policy and practice. This Centre will build on all previous WISERD research activities to undertake an ambitious new research programme. Our focus will be on the concept of civic stratification. This is a way of looking at divisions in society by focusing on the rights and obligations and practices of citizens and the role of civil society organisations in addressing inequalities in those rights and obligations. We will examine and analyse instances where people do not have the same rights as others (for example people who are migrants or refugees). We will also look at examples of people and groups working together within civil society to win new rights; this is referred to as civic expansion. Examples might include campaigns for animal rights or concerns about robots and Artificial Intelligence. We will investigate situations where people have the same rights but experience differences in their ability to access those rights; sometimes referred to as civic gain and civic loss (for example some people are better able to access legal services than others). Lastly, we will explore how individuals and groups come together to overcome deficits in their rights and citizenship; sometimes referred to as forms of civil repair. This might include ways in which people are looking at alternative forms of economic organisation, at local sustainability and at using new technologies (platforms and software) to organise and campaign for their rights. Our centre will deliver across four key areas of activity. First our research programme will focus on themes that address the different aspects of civic stratification. We will examine trends in polarization of economic, political and social rights, looking at how campaigns for rights are changing and undertaking case studies of attempts to repair the fabric of civil life. Second, we will extend and deepen our international and civil society research partnerships and networks and by doing so strengthen our foundations for developing further joint research in the future. Third, we will implement an exciting and accessible 'knowledge exchange' programme to enable our research and evidence to reach, involve and influence as many people as possible. Fourth, we will expand the capacity of social science research and nurture future research leaders. All our research projects will be jointly undertaken with key partners including civil society organisations, such as charities, and local communities. The research programme is broad and will include the collection of new data, the exploitation of existing data sources and linking existing sets of data. The data will range from local detailed studies to large cross-national comparisons. We will make the most of our skills and abilities to work with major RCUK research investments. We have an outstanding track record in maximising research impact, in applying a wide range of research methods to real world problems. This exciting and challenging research programme is based on a unique, long standing and supportive relationship between five core universities in Wales and our partnerships with universities and research institutes in the UK and internationally. It addresses priority areas identified by the ESRC and by governments and is informed by our continued close links with civil society organisations.</p

An Assessment of Food Systems Research Network for Africa Fellows’ Professional Experiences at Baseline, 2021

A dataset was created from responses to a baseline survey conducted to understand the professional experiences of FSNet-Africa fellows at the beginning of the FSNet-Africa Fellowship, which is part of an early career researcher development program. The survey specifically targeted 20 FSNet-Africa fellows from higher education institutions in Africa. Its objective was to understand the fellows' professional experiences in the following areas: networks and visibility, potential, skills development, performance improvement, and personal growth across eight dimensions of professional development. These dimensions include conducting integrated research, research data management, integrating gender in research, research ethics, monitoring and evaluation, disseminating research findings, and stakeholder engagement.The Food Systems Research Network for Africa (FSNet-Africa) will strengthen food systems research and its translation into implementable interventions in support of interrelated Sustainable Development Goals related to food systems in Africa (focusing on SDG2 - Zero Hunger). The network partners - University of Pretoria (UP) (ARUA-CoE in Food Security host), University of Leeds (UoL) (GCRF-AFRICAP host) and the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) (GCRF-AFRICAP partner) have been selected based on their track record of working together, strengths in food systems research and existing partnerships with food systems stakeholders. The major contribution of FSNet-Africa to addressing the challenge of SDG2 will be its focus on developing a new understanding of the African food systems through developing the FSNet-Africa Food Systems Framework and utilising systems-based methodologies to conduct research that enhances understanding of the components of the framework, the interactions between these components, and ultimately the leverage points for food system transformation. The latter will be implemented by an interdisciplinary cohort of early career research fellows (ECRF) who are supported in their research to identify (in dialogue with food systems stakeholders) and evaluate climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive, poverty-reducing interventions. FSNet-Africa will collaboratively produce context-relevant, interdisciplinary research through creating 2-year long structured opportunities for up to 30 ECRF, majority female, who obtained their PhD's less than 10 years ago to (i) conduct impact-focused, gender sensitive, interdisciplinary research related to African food systems, (ii) build lasting research networks, and (iii) develop their skills to translate their research impactfully. ECRF will be selected from 10 academic partner institutions in six countries - Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. The three formal components of the fellowships (science, mentorship and leadership development) will ensure that the ECRF are positioned in the necessary enabling environment and are provided with the opportunity to develop the necessary skills to produce excellent research, achieve the project objectives and significantly advance their academic careers. During the fellowship, each fellow will be assigned at least two mentors - one from an African university and the other from the UK. These research-triads will be carefully matched to ensure that the triad is an interdisciplinary team, enabling the ECRF to receive the support they need to develop and implement quality interdisciplinary research projects. The Science Component of the fellowship will be comprised of a fellowship orientation workshop, funding for research, participation in a split-site winter/summer school and a write-shop. After attending an Orientation Workshop with their mentors, ECRF will be expected to develop their research proposals that focus on climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive and poverty-reducing food systems solutions. Six months later, a 10-week split-site winter/summer school (at UP's Future Africa Campus and at the University of Leeds) will provide the ECRF with the opportunity to finalise their research proposals for implementation and to participate in various capacity development workshops. The Leadership Component will give ECRF the opportunity to develop skills the skills they need to be future food systems science leaders - such as managing research teams and leadership in science-policy communication. As a mechanism to facilitate research uptake and impact, every project undertaken by the ECRF will be co-designed and implemented in partnership with relevant policymakers, private sector role players or grassroots level organisations who will engage directly with the research teams at the Orientation Workshop, during the Winter School and in-country to implement the research.</p

Care, Inequality and Wellbeing in Transnational Families in Europe, 2022-2024

This research project investigated the relationships between care, inequalities and wellbeing among different generations of transnational families in the UK, Spain, France and Sweden. ‘Transnational families’ are family groups where one or more family members spend all or most of their time geographically separated across borders, but share a collective sense of connection as a ‘family’. This project established a new transnational interdisciplinary network across the four partner countries. The network built the capacity of migrants and practitioners through developing research skills and co-producing knowledge. It also built the capacity of early career and established academics through mutual learning in participatory and ethnographic approaches. The consortium facilitated comparative research that is influencing policy and practice changes to improve the equality and wellbeing of migrant carers of different generations. The research has shown that transnational families simultaneously manage multiple caring responsibilities, both proximately for family members, and by caring at a distance for kin living in other countries. Families’ opportunities and access to social protection are shaped by intersecting inequalities based on legal status, nationality, race and ethnicity, disability/chronic illness, socio-economic status, language-related inequalities, gender and generation. The physical and mental health, economic, social and emotional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were interlinked for migrants and led to the further marginalisation of transnational families, particularly those with insecure legal status and low socio-economic status. The deficits of migration and care regimes, alongside the absence of kin, create the need for children and youth to take on caring roles in transnational families. Children’s care work is often invisible, but may be crucial in enabling parents/relatives to fill gaps in care provision, facilitating access to public services through language and digital brokering. The accelerated shift towards digital technology becoming the primary gateway to access public services particularly affects older generations and those with low levels of literacy or language proficiency in the dominant societal language and increases the reliance on younger generations. The research highlighted several barriers to accessing affordable, appropriate and high-quality language education provision. Negative impacts of caregiving were evidenced among middle and younger generations in terms of their education, employment and finances, family relationships, social participation, health and wellbeing. Such impacts could have significant implications for carers’ long term opportunities and wellbeing, especially among transnational families with high care needs who were already facing financial hardships and insecurity. Policy recommendations focus on levelling out inequalities, expanding the definition of ‘family’ in reunification policies, recognising children’s care work in transnational families, making public services more accessible, welcoming and inclusive for migrant carers and their families. The findings across the four countries have been published in an open access Report (Summary also available in French, Spanish and Swedish), 4 Policy Briefs and 11 academic articles to date, 13 accessible film outputs and disseminated through regional workshops, an international Symposium and professional networks. We guest-edited a special issue of Population, Space and Place journal on ‘Intergenerational care, inequalities and wellbeing among transnational families in Europe’, which includes 5 papers based on the findings.This innovative comparative research project investigated the relationships between care, inequalities and wellbeing among different generations of transnational families in the UK, Spain, France & Sweden. The COVID-19 crisis has brought into stark relief the care deficits many European countries are confronting as ageing societies, with low-paid women migrants often filling gaps in formal care provision, while their own caring responsibilities for kin are often overlooked. Demographic shifts due to population ageing and increased international migration are leading to major changes in the provision of care, social protection and intergenerational responsibilities. These transformations may exacerbate existing inequalities facing migrant families with care needs. The project compared migrant carers' and transnational families' experiences within four partner countries with contrasting welfare models, migration regimes and post-colonial legacies. Using a multi-sited family-focused ethnographic & participatory action research methodology, we worked with partner organisations to train migrant peer researchers and supported them to undertake research with families, building trust and capacity within communities. We selected a diverse sample of 124 transnational families with care needs (total of 323 participants) of different ethnicities and varying legal status from two contrasting regions in each country and with family members living in countries of origin/other countries. We also selected 20 case study families for in-depth ethnographic research. The study provided unique insights into how family care practices are negotiated between and within different generations of transnational families in Europe, while also considering their family ties in countries of origin. This timely project captured the health, economic, social & emotional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on transnational families, including changing intergenerational caring responsibilities and mobility strategies. It explored the impacts of care on younger, middle and older generations' wellbeing and opportunities and how social reproductive and productive work are shaped by intersecting inequalities of gender, age and generation, disability, race, ethnicity/cultural background and socio-economic & legal status. It included a specific focus on young caregiving and how this affects children's wellbeing, education and opportunities. This interdisciplinary project also explored how language barriers may perpetuate inequalities facing transnational carers and how younger generations may provide 'language-brokering' and help older family members to navigate bureaucratic legal and administrative systems to claim their rights. The project will achieve significant societal impacts by providing a valuable evidence-base to inform policy in improving the wellbeing and equality of transnational families in Europe. It ihas shared the learning in practice through the co-production of policy and practice films and documentaries that raise awareness and support young and adult carers in transnational families. The findings and outputs have been disseminated through community screenings, regional stakeholder workshops, key academic and practitioner conferences and an international interdisciplinary Symposium. The project will produce numerous high impact journal articles in the fields of migration studies, social and emotional geographies, childhood and youth studies, family sociology, sociolinguistics and migrant language education and a co-edited volume. The dataset will be archived for future researchers' use.</p

Understanding Society: Waves 1-14, 2009-2023: Special Licence Access, Wellbeing Acorn

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.Understanding Society (the UK Household Longitudinal Study), which began in 2009, is conducted by the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Essex, and the survey research organisations Verian Group (formerly Kantar Public) and NatCen. It builds on and incorporates, the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS), which began in 1991.This dataset contains Wellbeing Acorn geodemographic segmentation codes (group and type) for each household in every wave of Understanding Society, together with a household identification number (hidp) allowing it to be linked to the main Understanding Society data files. The dataset is produced by matching the Wellbeing Acorn segmentation against every Understanding Society household at the postcode level. The Wellbeing Acorn segmentation system itself is developed and maintained by CACI Ltd and is designed by analysing demographic data, social factors, health and wellbeing characteristics in order to provide an understanding of the population’s wellbeing across the country. Group is the higher layer containing 5 segments providing a snapshot of the population from the least healthy to the healthiest. The more granular level is Type, containing 25 segments, to provide more detailed insights about the population to better understand their demographic, lifestyle and health characteristics. For details on the Acorn segmentation structure and how is it is produced please refer to the documentation and the Caci website. These data have more restrictive access conditions than those available under the standard End User Licence (see 'Access data' tab for more information).</p

Automated Occupational Advice for Long-Term Unemployed During Online Job Search, 2019-2021

The data covers job search activities and employment outcomes for participants in an online study on the provision of occupational recommendations to job seekers. Providing job search assistance to job seekers in a cost effective manner is a challenging goal. Interventions aimed at providing tailored advice typically involve large personnel costs that often dissipate the benefits. However, the advances in information technologies and the shift of formal job search to online platforms over the last 20 years offer new opportunities for providing advice at very low-cost. In this study we examine the potential for providing on-line advice to a population of hard-to-place job seekers. In a randomized field experiment, we provided suggestions about suitable alternative occupations to long-term unemployed job seekers. The suggestions were automatically generated, integrated in an online job search platform, and fed into actual search queries. Effects on the primary pre-registered outcomes of "finding a stable job" and "reaching a cumulative earnings threshold" are positive, large, and are more pronounced for those who are longer unemployed. Treated individuals include more occupations in their search and find more jobs in recommended occupations.The crisis and its aftermath have thrown up many challenges for macroeconomics. For the past thirty years the predominant methodology in macroeconomics has been a class of models that assume an absence of heterogeneity across firms, individuals, etc., and assume that individuals have access to well-functioning insurance markets. These models have been widely criticised for providing no insight into the current crisis. The crisis has highlighted i) the extreme nature of labour market responses as unemployment has remained high while nominal wages have remained inflexible; ii) the importance of credit markets in generating as well as propagating shocks.. It is our view that that a deeper understanding of credit and labour markets, how they interact and how shocks in these markets aggregate and propagate is fundamental to the understanding of the macroeconomy. This agenda requires building a model of the economy based on realistic features of credit and labour markets including differences in information among agents, differences in attitudes towards risk, the inability to specify or contract upon all future contingencies, and recognising the limits of contractual enforceability. It requires an understanding of how behaviour in individual markets aggregates and how, in turn, the macroeconomic environment feeds back to individual markets. Our aim is to transform research in macroeconomics and to build its foundations on a thorough understanding of credit and labour markets. Credit markets: We will consider why financial markets occasionally dry up, why banks simultaneously borrow and lend to each other and how this affects financial risk and monetary policy. An important component of this analysis is that differences in information between holders of assets and potential buyers creates illiquidity, that is, holders find it costly to reverse an asset trade once made. The relationship between contagious illiquidity and market failure, such as we have seen in the financial crisis, is a core element of this theme. Labour markets: Traditional models have difficulties accounting for the fluctuations, and the sluggishness in responses, of employment and wages. We will investigate this issue from two angles. First, we will look into the black-box of standard job search models by examining how job-seekers determine which jobs to apply for, how this changes with unemployment and how selections depend on occupation, salary and travel distance. Second, we will examine the nature of the employment relationship after job search is completed, its durability, the evolution of wages and productivity and the dependence of both on current, past, and anticipated macroeconomic conditions. The macroeconomy: An economy is the aggregation of the activities in individual markets. It is important to know if behaviour at the level of individual markets is amplified or washed-out at the aggregate level. For example, if employment responses at the firm level are sluggish, does this imply sluggish responses at the macro level? Understanding this aggregation issue requires insight into the structure of employment responses at the firm level. We expect that the joint analysis of credit and labour markets and how they aggregate will provide new insights for the understanding of the macroeconomy.</p

UKFood Combined Dataset: Statistical Matching of the Living Costs and Food Survey with the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, 2018-2019

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The UKFood dataset&nbsp;provides a statistical match of the Living Costs and Food Survey (LCFS) and the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), combining food purchases and expenditure at the household level with nutrient intake at the individual level. It was&nbsp;produced as part of the Imperial College Business School&nbsp;Fiscal INCentives for Health improvement: repurposing consumption taxes on food (FINCH)&nbsp;project (funded by the&nbsp;National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)).&nbsp;The LCFS is a nationally representative survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), designed to collect information on household spending patterns across the entirety of the UK. It is widely used to produce official UK family spending and food consumption statistics. In particular, the Food Family module (conducted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) records participants' food and drink purchases in a two-week diary, documenting quantities, expenditures, and nutrients for over 500 types of food.&nbsp;The NDNS, funded by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and conducted by NatCen and the University of Cambridge&nbsp;MRC Epidemiology Unit), gathers detailed information on food and nutrient intake from a representative sample of the UK population. This project employed statistical matching techniques to merge individuals from LCFS and NDNS, utilising a set of common variables in both datasets to create a new dataset containing household food expenditure and individual nutrient intake data. A predictive mean matching imputation technique facilitates the fusion of the two datasets that include samples from the same representative population and share a suitable subset of common variables for the 2018/19 fiscal year. The UKFood dataset encompasses a rich array of sociodemographic characteristics, including household size, ethnicity, tenure, marital status, sex, age, socioeconomic classification (SEC), UK regions, and the number of children in the household. Importantly, it also includes a range of nutrients at both individual and household levels (such as energy (kcal), protein, fat, carbohydrate, and sugar), enabling comparisons of nutrient purchases and intakes for a representative sample of the UK. This new dataset supports analyses of the impacts of fiscal policies, which necessitates an assessment of both household expenditure and finances, as well as individual nutrient intakes.DocumentationThe UKFood User Guide, Raw Variables Guide and ReadMe file are available via the Documentation tab.&nbsp;The Stata do-file information and codebook file are available for download alongside the data files, by registered UKDS users.</p