Welcome to the Autumn issue of Society Now,


the ESRC’s regular magazine which showcases the impact of the social science we fund. This issue takes a look at high-profile


economic and social issues. Our main feature offers three viewpoints on whether the Summer 2011 riots were caused by simple criminality or were symptomatic of a wider malaise. We talk to Professor John Van Reenen,


Director of the ESRC Centre for Economic Performance, who in simple terms explains the real causes of the global recession and what policies might encourage growth and boost employment. And the economic theme continues with a feature on research on financial risk and regulation in the context of the euro crisis. Experts also offer their views on why more


needs to be spent on prevention of HIV, how data linkage offers greater value to research, and share their perspective of dealing with complex Freedom Of Information requests. I hope you find the magazine enjoyable and informative. Please do email us with your feedback or ideas for content.


Nick Stevens, Editor - nick.stevens@esrc.ac.uk Society


AUTUMN 2011 ISSUE 11 ESRC RESEARCH MAKING AN IMPACT


ow Is Britain really broken?


Riots and wrongs


Euro in crisis: Complexities of currency management


Fight for freedom: The hidden cost of FOI


The views and statements


expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the ESRC


Voices: Global economics simplified


In this issue


REGULARS 3 News


16 Opinions Prevention of HIV in the 21st century; the power of research collaborations


18 The UK by numbers: Crime


29 Information and updates People, publications, news in brief, websites and events


CONTRIBUTORS


Peter Aggleton Professor and Head of the School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sussex, and Conjoint Professor in the National Centre in HIV Social Research at the University of New South Wales in Australia


2 SOCIETY NOW AUTUMN 2011


Dr Matthew Kearnes Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience, Department of Geography, Durham University


Gerard Hastings, Anne Marie MacKintosh and Linda Bauld Institute for Social Marketing (ISM)


and the Centre for Tobacco Control Research, University of Stirling and the Open University


John Van Reenen Professor of Economics and Director of the ESRC Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) at the LSE


26 FEATURES


10 Do wrongs make a riot? If Britain really is broken, what should be done in the areas of education, employment and family wellbeing to fix it?


14 The price of freedom What happens when the Freedom of Information Act hinders research


20 Good for the soul Children’s social and emotional development is greater if their parents work


22 Making the connection Data linking not only adds value to existing surveys but can also create new data resources


24 Euro in crisis ESRC research examines financial markets risk and international regulation


26 Voices: Economics made simple Professor John Van Reenen explains the recession, the euro crisis, financial regulation, taxes and growth


28 Festival focus The ninth Festival of Social Science promotes social science research throughout the UK


28 10 14 22 24


PLUS


Society Now CRIME


BY NUMBERS


Cover and contents images © Alamy and Dreamstime


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