Listen to the first episode of our Productivity Puzzles podcast
The first episode of The Productivity Institute’s new and original podcast series Productivity Puzzles is now live. Esteemed economists Andy Haldane, Dame Kate Barker and Professor Nick Crafts join host Professor Bart van Ark to discuss the question ‘Why does productivity matter?’.
They discuss why productivity is important for raising our living standards, what is at the core of the UK’s productivity problem, how the pandemic has changed the productivity puzzle and what critical things policy makers and business can do to manage the post-crisis challenges.
About our guests
Andy Haldane is the Chief Economist of the Bank of England. In June, he steps down from his post of seven years, after a career of more than 30 years at the bank. He also led the government’s recently disbanded Industrial Strategy Council. In September 2021, Andy becomes Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. He was also recently appointed as Honorary Professor at Alliance Manchester Business School.
Dame Kate Barker is a commissioner for the government’s Geospatial Commission and Chair-Elect of the Universities Superannuation Scheme. As well as being on the Industrial Strategy Council, Dame Kate is best known for her work as an external member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee and as government advisor on social issues such as housing and health care. She is also chair of The Productivity Institute’s Governing Council.
Professor Nick Crafts CBE is chair of The Productivity Institute’s Steering & Impact Committee. He is a Professor of Economic History at the University of Sussex Business School and his research focuses on long-run economic growth, British economic performance and policy in the 20th century, the industrial revolution, and the historical geography of industrial location. He is also Chair of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR)’s Council of Management.
