Labour standards in trade agreements: A long view on the level playing field
Why Brexit negotiations on the level playing field should be seen in light of the EU’s experience with FTAs and criticisms of labour standards provisions
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
Blind spots in International Political Economy: second Special Issue published in New Political Economy
A second landmark Special Issue exploring blind spots in the field of International Political Economy has been published in New Political Economy
Autumn events with the SPERI Doctoral Researcher Network
SPERI’s Doctoral Researcher Network (DRN) has hosted its annual introductory event for the new semester, and has announced plans to host two further events this semester.
Blind spots in International Political Economy: first landmark Special Issue published in RIPE
A landmark Special Issue exploring blind spots in the field of International Political Economy has been published
Governments must ‘change the way the economy works’ after Covid-19, says new OECD-commissioned report
A new OECD report written by SPERI’s Michael Jacobs calls on governments to prioritise environmental sustainability, economic resilience, reducing inequality and improving wellbeing
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.