About the project
Policy Factory – Lessons From the Past for Policy Futures
The Policy Factory project is driven by a shared belief that the history of economic, social, cultural, welfare and other policies matter. This idea is often asserted as part of a ‘we need to understand how we got here’ assessment of current policy dilemmas. The team at Policy Factory subscribes to this idea of course, but our work also shows how historic practice (successful and otherwise) can and must shape policy futures.
The failure to learn from the past litters current policy development and thinking. To take one example, there was nothing new in the 2010s about the concept of Universal Credit. Wrapping up benefits and imposing limits on that package along with associated waiting times, work requirements, and benefit withdrawal rates was precisely how officials organised much welfare in the past. The modern architects of this historic policy (and the policymakers who have tinkered with it subsequently) did not know this history. Nor did they take on board the lessons from history (flexible withdrawal rates, localism, local discretion, limited waiting times) that made past policies successful.
Policy Factory is intended as a place to look at the history behind current policy dilemmas as a means of finding solutions to prevailing issues. At Policy Factory we have written about these failures to learn on many occasions, and across all areas of policy. But we can, do, and must go further. We ask: how can we adapt the very best and most effective policies (planned or actually implemented) from the past and apply them to a range of policy areas: from planning the future economy to reforming welfare, from tackling climate change to cultural policy in the age of cultural wars, and more?
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Would you be interested in writing for us?
We are always on the look-out for articles, comment pieces, and blog posts from historians whose research may inform current policy debates and who are looking to disseminate their research to wider audiences.
At Policy Factory we typically publish:
- Articles – Long research papers based on a particular issue (5-10,000 words)
- Comment pieces – Shorter articles concerning a current policy issue or development (1-3,000 words)
- Blog posts – Shorter releases on current issues, publications and events (500-1,500 words)
Word counts are only approximate and we are always happy to discuss any ideas you may have.
If you would be interested in publishing with us or have any questions, please do contact us.
