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 our main feature looks at land use


and why any measure of the real value of land should include more than just the market value of agricultural produce. We examine the recently introduced benefits cap – is it the best policy to cut the benefits bill? Statistics are often quoted yet rarely


understood. Why do we misuse statistics and how can standards be improved?


Research finds that women know less than


men about politics and public affairs. Do they have less time to keep up with the news or is a legacy of past roles at play? Why do people use the internet for cruel ends and what can parents, police and other organisations do to protect the vulnerable? And Professor Gareth Myles discusses taxation and how national tax systems function in a global environment. I hope you find the magazine enjoyable and informative.


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


RCRESEARCH MAKIING AN IMPACT AUTUMN 2013 ISSUE 17


ow


Natural assets The real value of Britain’s


green and pleasant land


Damned lies: The routine misuse of statistics


Knowledge gap: Women care less about politics


The views and statements


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


Voices: How global business taxation has changed


In this issue


REGULARS 3 News


20 The UK by numbers: Communications


25 Opinion Claire Hardaker looks at why people use the internet for cruel, selfish or criminal ends and how it can be made safer.


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


CONTRIBUTORS


Jennifer Garrett is a writer on social science, nature and the environment


Claire Hardaker is a lecturer in Corpus Linguistics at Lancaster University


John MacInnes is ESRC Strategic Advisor on


2 SOCIETY NOW AUTUMN 2013


Quantitative Methods Training and sits on the advisory board of the Royal Statistical Society’s Statistical Literacy Campaign


Robert Joyce is a senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies


James Curran is Professor of Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London


Kaori Hayashi is Professor, Graduate School of


Interdisciplinary Information Studies, University of Tokyo


16 18 10 14


22 FEATURES


10 Natural assets All of the values associated with land must be considered when making decisions about how we use it.


14 Fringe benefits What will the benefits cap for working-age families achieve and is it the most effective approach to reduce state benefits?


16 Sexy statistics? John MacInnes explains why statistics are routinely abused and what’s being done to improve standards.


18 An accepting Europe The European Social Survey finds great differences across Europe in public acceptance of non-traditional relationships.


22 Politically disinterested Why do women across the world know less than men about politics and public affairs?


26 Voices: Taxing matters Professor Gareth Myles discusses whether the UK needs to update its tax system to cope with a new corporate world.


26


PLUS


Society Now COMMUNICATIONS


BY NUMBERS


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