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Productivity Puzzles

The Productivity Institute
Productivity
Investment
UK Productivity
UK Economy
Business Model Innovation
Industrial Strategy
Skills Development
Economics
Innovation
Infrastructure
The Productivity Institute
Place-Based Policies
Tax Policy
Government Policy
Artificial Intelligence
Regional Disparities
Devolution
Digital Technology
Supply Chain
Small and Medium Enterprises

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes55Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
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Artwork for Productivity Puzzles

Latest Episodes

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 explore... 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

If universities are engines of growth, why isn’t productivity accelerating? What’s the point of educating graduates if regions can’t keep or use them?

Skills are central to regional economic performance, but translating the supply of graduates into ... more

Do we need to rethink how we measure productivity in the age of digital technologies and AI?

Productivity is a fundamental measure of how effectively people, firms and places transform resources into improved living standards. Diane Coyle talks abou... more

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Recent Guests

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
Philip McCann
Sir Terry Leahy Chair in Urban and Regional Economics at Alliance Manchester Business School
Alliance Manchester Business School; The Productivity Institute
Episode: Ask the expert on… regional productivity and place-based growth
Anita Charlesworth
Health economist, co-chair of NHS Productivity Commission
Health Foundation
Episode: What Does it Take to Improve NHS Productivity?
Mark Britnell
Healthcare systems expert, professor at UCL
Global Business School for Health, UCL
Episode: What Does it Take to Improve NHS Productivity?

Host

Bart van Ark
Host of Productivity Puzzles; Professor of Productivity Studies at the University of Manchester

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
    4 years ago

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#125
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#150
New Zealand/Government
Apple Podcasts
#174
Singapore/Government
Apple Podcasts
#215
Israel/Government
Apple Podcasts
#245
Ireland/Government
Apple Podcasts
#247
Netherlands/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Ask the expert on… keeping Britain working: health, work and productivity
Q: What role do SMEs play in the Keep Britain Working initiative?
SMEs are a key focus; the Vanguard program includes many SMEs, emphasizing that even smaller organizations can implement practical, scalable health and wellbeing measures.
Ask the expert on… keeping Britain working: health, work and productivity
Q: How should return-to-work be structured?
Return-to-work plans should be simple, employer-driven, and involve the employee and workplace health provider, with possible phasing, additional support, and periodic check-ins.

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 series centers on productivity across sectors, regions, and policy environments, featuring researchers, policymakers, and business leaders who unpack why productivity gaps exist and how to close them. Episodes typically explore how organizational practices, public policy, and technology affect real-world performance—from investment decisions and management attitudes to health systems and regional growth—often weaving together empirical findings with practical implications for firms, governments, and investors. Noteworthy are thoughtful debates on placing innovation, governance, and evidence at the core of productivity strategies, along with concrete policy concepts and case studies that listeners can translate into action. Potential li... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Productivity Puzzles?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Productivity Puzzles:

1. The Economics Show
2. Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government
3. Political Fix
4. Political Currency
5. Westminster Insider

How many episodes of Productivity Puzzles are there?

Productivity Puzzles launched 5 years ago and published 55 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. Steve Roper
2. Tera Allas
3. Catherine Mann
4. Charles Mayfield
5. Duncan Ivison
6. Chander Velu
7. Philip McCann
8. Anita Charlesworth

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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