Ben Baumberg Geiger
@benbgeiger.bsky.social
Social policy researcher (though sometimes pretends to be a philosopher), Prof co-leading WelfareExperiences project and kcl.ac.uk/csmh work & welfare strand. Was at @BenBaumberg at the other place.
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
It's a useful reminder that sometimes tech can make a task more efficient for one side (applying for jobs), and more efficient for the other side (writing job adverts), and yet make the system as a whole completely inefficient.
November 14, 2025 at 10:14 AM
It's a useful reminder that sometimes tech can make a task more efficient for one side (applying for jobs), and more efficient for the other side (writing job adverts), and yet make the system as a whole completely inefficient.
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
Is AI making job recruitment less meritocratic? We're getting some v interesting research studies on this question now, and the news is... not good. @jburnmurdoch.ft.com & I dive in, in the latest edition of our newsletter The AI Shift www.ft.com/content/e5b7...
November 14, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Is AI making job recruitment less meritocratic? We're getting some v interesting research studies on this question now, and the news is... not good. @jburnmurdoch.ft.com & I dive in, in the latest edition of our newsletter The AI Shift www.ft.com/content/e5b7...
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
Racist, sexist, disdain of experts, outriders as heroes, scoffing at political correctness, getting angrier....
I feel I know this story.
I feel I know this story.
November 9, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Racist, sexist, disdain of experts, outriders as heroes, scoffing at political correctness, getting angrier....
I feel I know this story.
I feel I know this story.
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
Mayfield Review rightly highlights employer incentives for more evidence & then action. But this is the bit that's absolutely crucial and has been ducked by governments for a long time. That must change for better living standards, inclusion &growth.
3/n www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/from...
3/n www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/from...
From Review to reality • Resolution Foundation
There’s always a danger that official reviews end up generating a lot of talk and symbolic gestures, but don’t set out meaningful steps for change. That’s the challenge faced by the just-published rev...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
November 7, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Mayfield Review rightly highlights employer incentives for more evidence & then action. But this is the bit that's absolutely crucial and has been ducked by governments for a long time. That must change for better living standards, inclusion &growth.
3/n www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/from...
3/n www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/from...
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
- Useful short term actions: create standard, trial interventions, build up evidence.
- But risk bolder next steps delayed or don't happen.
- Big gap=employer incentives. We won't crack this by just working with the willing. We'll need incentives and enforcement 2/n
- But risk bolder next steps delayed or don't happen.
- Big gap=employer incentives. We won't crack this by just working with the willing. We'll need incentives and enforcement 2/n
November 7, 2025 at 4:29 PM
- Useful short term actions: create standard, trial interventions, build up evidence.
- But risk bolder next steps delayed or don't happen.
- Big gap=employer incentives. We won't crack this by just working with the willing. We'll need incentives and enforcement 2/n
- But risk bolder next steps delayed or don't happen.
- Big gap=employer incentives. We won't crack this by just working with the willing. We'll need incentives and enforcement 2/n
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
Excellent analysis of Mayfield Review from @benbgeiger.bsky.social & @louisemurphy.bsky.social
@resolutionfoundation.org
- Review has the right diagnosis & analysis of problem & drivers.
- UK labour market isn't in crisis, but does have a long-running problem with disability inclusion.
1/n
@resolutionfoundation.org
- Review has the right diagnosis & analysis of problem & drivers.
- UK labour market isn't in crisis, but does have a long-running problem with disability inclusion.
1/n
From Review to reality • Resolution Foundation
There’s always a danger that official reviews end up generating a lot of talk and symbolic gestures, but don’t set out meaningful steps for change. That’s the challenge faced by the just-published rev...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
November 7, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Excellent analysis of Mayfield Review from @benbgeiger.bsky.social & @louisemurphy.bsky.social
@resolutionfoundation.org
- Review has the right diagnosis & analysis of problem & drivers.
- UK labour market isn't in crisis, but does have a long-running problem with disability inclusion.
1/n
@resolutionfoundation.org
- Review has the right diagnosis & analysis of problem & drivers.
- UK labour market isn't in crisis, but does have a long-running problem with disability inclusion.
1/n
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
Extraordinary story from @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social: A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived.
One woman: “It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car...He has just wiped me out.”
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
One woman: “It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car...He has just wiped me out.”
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived
Exclusive: The Tribune can reveal that Andrew Milne has threatened leaseholders with high court action. It ‘broke my heart’ one woman says
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Extraordinary story from @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social: A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived.
One woman: “It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car...He has just wiped me out.”
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
One woman: “It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car...He has just wiped me out.”
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
The Mayfield Review gets a lot right, but there's also ways it needs to go further - a response from me and @louisemurphy.bsky.social on the @resolutionfoundation.org blog:
What should we make of the Mayfield 'Keep Britain Working' review, published this week?
New @resolutionfoundation.org blog with @benbgeiger.bsky.social on where the review gets it right - and where we think it needs to go further.
www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/from...
New @resolutionfoundation.org blog with @benbgeiger.bsky.social on where the review gets it right - and where we think it needs to go further.
www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/from...
From Review to reality • Resolution Foundation
There’s always a danger that official reviews end up generating a lot of talk and symbolic gestures, but don’t set out meaningful steps for change. That’s the challenge faced by the just-published rev...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
November 7, 2025 at 10:29 AM
The Mayfield Review gets a lot right, but there's also ways it needs to go further - a response from me and @louisemurphy.bsky.social on the @resolutionfoundation.org blog:
*Have new WCA claims exploded in the last year?*
My new blog post on (another) mess in DWP statistics...
inequalities.substack.com/p/have-new-w...
My new blog post on (another) mess in DWP statistics...
inequalities.substack.com/p/have-new-w...
Have new WCA claims exploded in the last year?
Yet again, the DWP has been publishing data in a misleading way, making it hard to know what's going on...
inequalities.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:21 AM
*Have new WCA claims exploded in the last year?*
My new blog post on (another) mess in DWP statistics...
inequalities.substack.com/p/have-new-w...
My new blog post on (another) mess in DWP statistics...
inequalities.substack.com/p/have-new-w...
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
And the focus is largely on preventing people from falling out of work. While this is crucial, it’s equally important to address the barriers that prevent disabled people from entering work in the first place. We have further work on this coming out in the months ahead
November 5, 2025 at 11:27 AM
And the focus is largely on preventing people from falling out of work. While this is crucial, it’s equally important to address the barriers that prevent disabled people from entering work in the first place. We have further work on this coming out in the months ahead
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
However, it feels a bit too focused on the ‘carrot’. My concern is that this might simply reward employers already doing well on disability employment, without doing much - at least in the initial stages of the plan - to shift the behaviour of those falling short
November 5, 2025 at 11:27 AM
However, it feels a bit too focused on the ‘carrot’. My concern is that this might simply reward employers already doing well on disability employment, without doing much - at least in the initial stages of the plan - to shift the behaviour of those falling short
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
Initial thoughts on the Keep Britain Working Review
(More reflections to follow in an upcoming blog)
(More reflections to follow in an upcoming blog)
November 5, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Initial thoughts on the Keep Britain Working Review
(More reflections to follow in an upcoming blog)
(More reflections to follow in an upcoming blog)
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
I missed this last week. The new English index of income deprivation includes UC working households who are on low-incomes AFTER HOUSING COSTS.
This is a big deal technically & means we now have a hyper local measure of LIVING STANDARDS not just incomes.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
This is a big deal technically & means we now have a hyper local measure of LIVING STANDARDS not just incomes.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Almost all children in 73 areas of England live in low-income households
New official measures show levelling up attempts have failed to shift high levels of deprivation
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:57 AM
I missed this last week. The new English index of income deprivation includes UC working households who are on low-incomes AFTER HOUSING COSTS.
This is a big deal technically & means we now have a hyper local measure of LIVING STANDARDS not just incomes.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
This is a big deal technically & means we now have a hyper local measure of LIVING STANDARDS not just incomes.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
Fantastic, erudite, and provocative essay. Recommended for anyone interested literacy, AI, and education and the future of humanity: "For it is AI that has given the American ruling class the final impetus to more or less abolish education".
October 31, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Fantastic, erudite, and provocative essay. Recommended for anyone interested literacy, AI, and education and the future of humanity: "For it is AI that has given the American ruling class the final impetus to more or less abolish education".
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
oh my god it's still online
October 17, 2025 at 12:24 PM
oh my god it's still online
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
One-in-ten adults on low-to-middle incomes are now carers.
This has widened the gap between lower and higher income families when it comes to caring responsibilities.
This has widened the gap between lower and higher income families when it comes to caring responsibilities.
October 17, 2025 at 4:15 PM
One-in-ten adults on low-to-middle incomes are now carers.
This has widened the gap between lower and higher income families when it comes to caring responsibilities.
This has widened the gap between lower and higher income families when it comes to caring responsibilities.
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
Excellent article by @chrisgiles.ft.com riffing off recent posts from @benbgeiger.bsky.social
No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
on.ft.com/4ooDEqx
No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
on.ft.com/4ooDEqx
No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
It’s far from perfect, but the UK’s spending is broadly controlled and employment is high
on.ft.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Excellent article by @chrisgiles.ft.com riffing off recent posts from @benbgeiger.bsky.social
No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
on.ft.com/4ooDEqx
No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
on.ft.com/4ooDEqx
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
Can't believe someone a) had the data to write this paper b) wrote this paper www.nber.org/papers/w3434...
October 13, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Can't believe someone a) had the data to write this paper b) wrote this paper www.nber.org/papers/w3434...
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
The UK is an international outlier when it comes to protection from unfair dismissal.
Our two-year ‘qualifying period’ for unfair dismissal protection is completely out of step with other rich countries, where qualifying periods between three and six months are the norm.
Read more buff.ly/0OSArrI
Our two-year ‘qualifying period’ for unfair dismissal protection is completely out of step with other rich countries, where qualifying periods between three and six months are the norm.
Read more buff.ly/0OSArrI
October 13, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The UK is an international outlier when it comes to protection from unfair dismissal.
Our two-year ‘qualifying period’ for unfair dismissal protection is completely out of step with other rich countries, where qualifying periods between three and six months are the norm.
Read more buff.ly/0OSArrI
Our two-year ‘qualifying period’ for unfair dismissal protection is completely out of step with other rich countries, where qualifying periods between three and six months are the norm.
Read more buff.ly/0OSArrI
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
Hadn't realised lots of trusts were no longer prescribing gluten-free food for coeliac kids.
My son is coeliac and his food is so much more expensive. We don't get on prescription because we can afford it but for a family in poverty that's a massive issue.
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...
My son is coeliac and his food is so much more expensive. We don't get on prescription because we can afford it but for a family in poverty that's a massive issue.
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...
NHS suggests coeliac children use food banks as doctors blast ‘cruel’ cuts
Clinicians warn of ‘shocking levels of ignorance’ over ‘cruel and risky’ decision to cut gluten-free prescriptions
www.independent.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Hadn't realised lots of trusts were no longer prescribing gluten-free food for coeliac kids.
My son is coeliac and his food is so much more expensive. We don't get on prescription because we can afford it but for a family in poverty that's a massive issue.
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...
My son is coeliac and his food is so much more expensive. We don't get on prescription because we can afford it but for a family in poverty that's a massive issue.
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
Labour MPs who voted against welfare cuts this summer have warned that plans to change disability benefit assessments could trigger another mass rebellion
Others called for a vote to be delayed until a review into the assessments is complete
By me, for Big Issue: www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Others called for a vote to be delayed until a review into the assessments is complete
By me, for Big Issue: www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Labour faces another mass rebellion over reforms to universal credit
Welfare secretary Pat McFadden plans further reforms to the benefits system, expected to include abolishing the work capability assessment.
www.bigissue.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Labour MPs who voted against welfare cuts this summer have warned that plans to change disability benefit assessments could trigger another mass rebellion
Others called for a vote to be delayed until a review into the assessments is complete
By me, for Big Issue: www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Others called for a vote to be delayed until a review into the assessments is complete
By me, for Big Issue: www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
One of my favorite anecdotes from THE PREHISTORY OF THE FAR SIDE: "That doesn't sound like the Jane Goodall we know."
October 1, 2025 at 6:13 PM
One of my favorite anecdotes from THE PREHISTORY OF THE FAR SIDE: "That doesn't sound like the Jane Goodall we know."
Reposted by Ben Baumberg Geiger
✍ NEW BLOG | Putting humanity at the heart of welfare
@j-hancock.bsky.social reflects on 13 years of online conversations evidencing the enduring challenges that people face when navigating the #welfare system.
This blog draws from our ongoing Online Listening research with @jrf-uk.bsky.social.
@j-hancock.bsky.social reflects on 13 years of online conversations evidencing the enduring challenges that people face when navigating the #welfare system.
This blog draws from our ongoing Online Listening research with @jrf-uk.bsky.social.
Putting humanity at the heart of welfare
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
demos.co.uk
October 1, 2025 at 12:42 PM
✍ NEW BLOG | Putting humanity at the heart of welfare
@j-hancock.bsky.social reflects on 13 years of online conversations evidencing the enduring challenges that people face when navigating the #welfare system.
This blog draws from our ongoing Online Listening research with @jrf-uk.bsky.social.
@j-hancock.bsky.social reflects on 13 years of online conversations evidencing the enduring challenges that people face when navigating the #welfare system.
This blog draws from our ongoing Online Listening research with @jrf-uk.bsky.social.