A beginner’s guide to economic ignorance
Wishful thinking, muddling through and other forms of ignorance play a crucial role in shaping economic policy and its effects on society.
Leading the debate on a new political economy
SPERI develops and promotes new analysis and understanding of contemporary capitalism, and of the major economic and political challenges arising from it.
Recent News
Beyond Political Economy and Security Studies: new PREPPE project launches
SPERI has launched a new cohort within its innovative PREPPE programme.
Professor Michael Jacobs gives his inaugural lecture
Listen to and read the full text of of Professor Michael Jacobs’ inaugural lecture ‘Ideas and Power: reflections on politics, environmental crisis and economic paradigm shifts’
International media coverage for new SPERI report on living wages in the garment industry
SPERI’s new report ‘Corporate Commitments to Living Wages in the Garment Industry’ has been widely covered in the media since its publication
Global garment companies are failing to deliver on living wage promises to workers, new SPERI study finds
A new SPERI report documents how global garment companies are failing to meet living wage promises to workers.
Our Research
SPERI is an international research centre at the University of Sheffield. We explore how contemporary economies work and the public policies which could achieve a more equal and sustainable society. Our research is focused around four priority themes.
Research Themes
Labour & Decent Work
The nature of labour and work in the global economy is changing fast. Rapid reconfiguration of business models, new technologies, […]
Corporate Power & the Global Economy
As corporate control over global production, consumption, and distribution systems increases, so too does business actors’ economic and political influence. […]
Finance, Debt & Society
This research theme explores the political, institutional, economic, technological and cultural dynamics of change in the financial and monetary sphere, […]
Capitalism, Democracy & the State
Sustained low growth, weakening US leadership, resurgent protectionism, environmental degradation, and the so-called rise of populism all challenge the liberal […]
Our Impact
We work closely with policymakers and partners from around the world to develop our research and ensure it has real impact.