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How ready are UK firms for the decisive decade?
Firms

The UK is set for a decade of major change, with private sector firms in the front line. How ready are they for this change? What form should policy towards business take within a new economic strategy for the UK? This report is the first of a series on UK firms for the Economy 2030 Inquiry to address these questions. 

Private sector productivity is the key driver of longer-term improvements in living standards. UK performance in this regard is dire in two respects – levels and growth. These are a pervasive feature of the UK, present in most sectors of the economy.  

The gap between the best and worst firms is huge, but this problem is not especially bad in the UK when compared to other countries, nor getting any worse overall. Nor do UK firms appear to have suffered the same loss of dynamism as in other countries. Where they stand out, though, is in their low levels of investment and mediocre management. Increasing investment is necessary but must be wisely targeted, and will necessitate postponing consumption or increasing net imports. 

Explore the report

Read the report’s Executive Summary and key findings below, or download the full report as a PDF.


Contact

For all research queries about this report, please contact Greg Thwaites. For press queries, please contact the Resolution Foundation press office.

Greg Thwaites
Research Director,
Resolution Foundation

Email Greg