List of The last word Archive

Schools - back to basics

Blog

09 Jan 2010

Matthew Taylor

Sometimes a series of unconnected events conspire to turn a vague conviction into a firm opinion. Try these three:

Brief moments of wonder

Blog

06 Jan 2010

Matthew Taylor

There was an hour this afternoon when the snow outside my window was a blizzard and it looked like – for once – the monuments and by-ways of central London would be shrouded in white. At exactly the same time it seemed like something exciting (I’m not saying good or bad, just ‘exciting’) might be happening in politics. Hoon and Hewitt had called for a ballot and there was an eerie silence from the Cabinet. And at just that moment Strauss and Cook were charging into an unbroken century partnership chasing the improbable target of 466 in South Africa.

For good ideas - go local

Blog

05 Jan 2010

Matthew Taylor

The working new year started early yesterday. So that I could take part in a Today Programme item about the coming election campaign, and fulfil a speaking engagement, I had to get the 6.30 train to Bath. The radio discussion was fine, although the other two participants were much more partisan than I try to be (even when I am not appearing in my RSA guise). 

Living by Giving?

Blog

05 Jan 2010

There is a fascinating event coming up next week at the RSA called 'Living by Giving' (register here if you are interested). The event brings together two of the top organ donation experts in the country, Chris Rudge and Professor James Neuberger, with philosopher A.C. Grayling and the RSA's very own Matthew Taylor. The topic of discussion will be whether organ donation should be the default for UK citizens, and if so, upon what basis should we argue for such a sea-change? Are we all reciprocal altruists, who, expecting to be helped ourselves, should return the favour we implicitly expect from others? Or is altruism simply a moral good, so that organ donation should be promoted regardless of the expectation of reciprocation? Moreover, why don't people donate organs? Is it because they think organs might go to others who are undeserving such as alchoholics? Does altruism require us to give to others whatever their circumstances? Or are many people simply self-interested, 'free-riding' on other people's donations?

Final salary pensions: RIP

Blog

04 Jan 2010

Matthew Taylor

The news that final salary pensions schemes have virtually ceased to exist, at least to potential new entrants is a reminder of the importance of pensions policy.  It may be that the savings rate is now higher in the UK than for many years but most of us continue to save far too little to have any chance of the retirement income to which we aspire.

Correlation vs. Causation

Blog

03 Jan 2010

A New Year is here. 2010 promises to be another fantastic year at the RSA for me as well as for the organisation. Unlike the rest of my family and friends, the festive food frenzy and frolics was interspersed with hard study as I began to prepare the first 5000 word essay for my MA. The temptations were many but I managed to squeeze a couple of thousand words out and am thankful that I had the opportunity to reflect on everything I have had the chance to learn, see and experience over the last 6 months since beginning the course and starting to work on the User Centred Drug Services Project (both closely related to one another).

Back to character

Blog

02 Jan 2010

Matthew Taylor

A rare Saturday post, partly to remove the rather odd New Year’s Eve offering from my front page. This is inspired by a post by Jonah Lehrer on why we should avoid making too many New Year’s resolutions.

Health as a Social Movement: The Power of People in Movements

Report

01 Jan 2010

Nesta have produced a report which illuminates the value and role of social movements in health - to foster further debate, experiments and development of practice.

Citizen Power Peterborough: A scoping study

Report

01 Jan 2010

This report will lay down the conceptual foundations for the Citizen Power programme and outline why we have alighted upon particular areas of practice.