National Institute of Economic and Social Research

sk The National Institute of Economic and Social Research is Britain's longest established independent economic research institute with over sixty years experience of applying academic excellence to the needs of business and policy makers.

The Institute is independent of all party political interests. It receives no core funding from government and is not affiliated to any single university, although our staff regularly undertake projects in collaboration with leading academic institutions.

The Institute's work falls into three distinct fields: economic modelling and macro analysis; education, training and employment; the international economy. Our research interests are constantly changing in response to new needs but embrace most of the issues that shape economic performance.

Current programmes include work on productivity, pensions and the ageing population, trade and investment, European financial integration, labour markets and economic statistics. All are underpinned by the Institute's long standing strength in macroeconomic modelling and forecasting.

The Institute is part of the EUROFRAME network, an initiative for improved forecasting and macroeconomic analysis in the European Union. The EUROFRAME network was founded at the end of 1998 by nine independent European research institutes that combine their knowledge in providing quantitative analysis, forecasts and policy recommendations for the European Union and for national decision makers.

The Institute's work is influential world wide with subscribers to its publications in over seventy countries. The Institute's global model is used by some thirty prestigious organisations including several central banks and finance ministries.

In his review of 2004, Martin Weale drew attention to the fact that the Institute continues to act as a bridge between the academic and policymaking communities. From our offices in the centre of Westminster, we have dealt with issues which have significant policy relevance and have combined this strength with thorough academic research. As a result, serious economics commentators look to the Institute for a measured approach to news items which can only too easily be subject to shallow 'sound bites'.

NIESR conducts its research to high ethical standards. To this end it adheres to the code of the Social Research Association. NIESR researchers ensure that their research complies with this code.


NIESR at a Glance

  • Was founded on 2nd June, 1938, after a first initiative by Sir Josiah Stamp in the early 1930s, and was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1929.
  • President - Lord Burns, Chairman of Abbey plc, Chairman of Welsh Water, appointed November 2003;
  • Director - Martin Weale, CBE, D.Sc., MA, formerly Economics Fellow, Clare College, Cambridge, appointed October 1995;
  • Chairman of Council - Professor Timothy Besley, Professor of Economics and Political Science, London School of Economics; Director of STICERD; Member, Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee, appointed November 2008;
  • Company Secretary - Gill Clisham, BA, FRSA, appointed January 2001.
  • 15-member Council of Management.
  • 176 Governors
  • 30 research staff, 18 visiting fellows, 9 support staff.