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Productivity Puzzles

The Productivity Institute
Productivity
UK Productivity
Investment
UK Economy
Business Model Innovation
Industrial Strategy
Skills Development
Economics
Artificial Intelligence
Innovation
Generative AI
Brexit
Infrastructure
The Productivity Institute
Tax Policy
Technology Diffusion
Place-Based Policies
United Kingdom
Government Policy
Devolution

Join Bart van Ark, Professor of Productivity Studies at the University of Manchester, and the managing director of The Productivity Institute as he brings you discussions with leading minds from the UK and abroad about how to improve productivity for almost everything: from health care to car manufacturing, at national and regional levels, for business and for your own personal productivity.

This... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes57Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentBusiness

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Artwork for Productivity Puzzles

Latest Episodes

Is the UK’s recent productivity recovery a sign of lasting improvement? How could AI, technology adoption and shifting global economic conditions shape the country’s future productivity?

This episode of Productivity Puzzles explores the challenges ... more

Generative AI has moved from curiosity to everyday tool with remarkable speed. But the big productivity question is not simply whether people are using it; it is whether firms, sectors and economies can turn that use into lasting productivity gains. ... more

Why do firms invest when they do and not necessarily when they should? Are firms too cautious to invest? Or just realistic about uncertainty? Is the real investment gap about money or about mindset?

This episode of Productivity Puzzles explores why... more

If one in five working‑age people are inactive, what does that say about the UK’s productivity problem? Why does ill health push so many people out of work in the UK, but not in peer countries?

Rising economic inactivity linked to health has become ... more

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Recent Guests

Jun Du
Applied economist, Professor of Economics at Alliance Manchester Business School and Managing Director of The Productivity Institute
The Productivity Institute
Episode: What Will It Take to Raise UK Productivity?
Martin Baily
Senior Fellow Emeritus at the Brookings Institution; former Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers
Brookings Institution
Episode: The Productivity Impetus from Generative AI
Diane Coyle
Professor of Public Policy and Research Director at the Bennett School of Public Policy, Cambridge
University of Cambridge; The Productivity Institute
Episode: The Productivity Impetus from Generative AI
Steve Roper
Professor of Enterprise at the University of Warwick
Enterprise Research Centre at Warwick University
Episode: Why do Firms (not) Invest?
Tera Allas
Honorary Professor at Manchester University; Chair of the Advisory Board of the Productivity Institute
Productivity Institute
Episode: Why do Firms (not) Invest?
Catherine Mann
Honorary Professor; external member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee
Bank of England / Manchester
Episode: Why do Firms (not) Invest?
Charles Mayfield
Chair of the Government Commission, Keep Britain Working Review
Keep Britain Working; Government Commission
Episode: Ask the expert on… keeping Britain working: health, work and productivity
Duncan Ivison
President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Manchester
University of Manchester
Episode: Ask the expert on… skills, education and regional productivity
Chander Velu
Resident expert on business model innovation
University of Cambridge (Institute for Manufacturing)
Episode: Ask the expert on… making digital technologies deliver productivity

Host

Bart van Ark
Professor of Productivity Studies at the University of Manchester; Host of Productivity Puzzles; Director/Principal at The Productivity Institute. Regularly engages leading researchers and policymakers to discuss productivity across sectors and regions.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 26 ratings
  • Very informative on a highly significant subject. Look forward every new episodes.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    asen
    5 years ago

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#108
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#46
Singapore/Government
Apple Podcasts
#141
New Zealand/Government
Apple Podcasts
#181
Sweden/Government
Apple Podcasts
#214
Brazil/Government
Apple Podcasts
#228
Ireland/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Will It Take to Raise UK Productivity?
Q: What are the white space, if you like, that we have not been identifying and not have worked on sufficiently so far?
Du says research should better explain how individual firms adjust to shocks and new technologies, rather than relying only on average effects. She also emphasizes the need to understand how productivity gains spread between firms, sectors, places, and global networks.
What Will It Take to Raise UK Productivity?
Q: Is this just a statistical thing or is there something real happening? Are perhaps the foundations for productivity gradually become stronger?
Du says the recent improvement is modest and measurement-dependent. A revised ONS method for measuring labour inputs raises estimates of historical productivity growth, but she sees this mainly as a revision to the past rather than evidence of a current recovery; she also cautions against attributing it to AI.
What Does it Take to Improve NHS Productivity?
Q: How can we change the culture in NHS to support innovation and learning?
Culture change requires a unified goal, empowered local leadership, and incentives aligned to better outcomes; it also involves building an innovation and learning culture where productivity is viewed as reform and growth, not a threat to staff.
What Does it Take to Improve NHS Productivity?
Q: What are the four major drivers identified in the report, and why do they matter for productivity?
The four drivers—workforce, capital, technology, and transformation—matter because they collectively determine how effectively inputs like staff, buildings, and digital tools are converted into better patient outcomes, with investment gaps in capital and a need for organizational change to maximize technology benefits.
What Does it Take to Improve NHS Productivity?
Q: From your perspective, where are we now on productivity in the NHS, and what progress has actually been made?
There has been some progress but productivity growth has not returned to pre-pandemic trajectories; gaps persist across trusts due to bottlenecks, misaligned incentives, and limited capital, but there are opportunities to close these gaps through better management, diffusion of best practices, and strategic investment.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Productivity Puzzles

What is Productivity Puzzles about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on productivity across firms, sectors, and regions, with a strong emphasis on policy, economics, and practical implementation. Episodes frequently explore why productivity varies within the UK and how regional strategies, public investment, and organizational change can unlock improvements. Notable threads include the impact of AI and digital adoption on productivity, how firms make investment decisions, NHS productivity, and place-based policy, often featuring senior researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders who bring rigorous, data-driven perspectives. A standout trait is the breadth of guest expertise, ranging from university professors and national policymakers to healthcare and public-sector leaders, all connect... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Productivity Puzzles?

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1. Centre for Cities
2. IFS Zooms In: The Economy
3. Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government
4. The Economics Show with Soumaya Keynes
5. Political Fix

How many episodes of Productivity Puzzles are there?

Productivity Puzzles launched 5 years ago and published 57 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Productivity Puzzles?

Recent guests on Productivity Puzzles include:

1. Jun Du
2. Martin Baily
3. Diane Coyle
4. Steve Roper
5. Tera Allas
6. Catherine Mann
7. Charles Mayfield
8. Duncan Ivison

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