This project with Diego Polanco, Alfred Saad-Filho, and Adalmir Marquetti examines the challenge of inclusive growth in five countries – Brazil, Chile, the USA, UK, and Germany – via comparative-relational analysis. Slow growth (stagnation) exacerbates social exclusion, increases financial insecurity, and gives rise to other problems, including bouts of political instability, though the specific problems vary by region and country due to their distinct institutional configurations. 

We are examining the relation between profitability, wages, investment, and institutions (employment, trade, finance, the state, and inter-state relations). We are constructing comprehensive datasets for profitability analysis at three levels (macro, sectoral, firm-level) using official statistics, going back as far as data are available. 

This project with Ian Greer, Reed Eaglesham, and Sean O’Brady examines the potential impact of a living wage ordnance on employers in Tompkins County, NY. The project is lead by Ian Greer under the auspices of the Tompkins Country Living Wage Working Group.

This project with Gregor Bouville examines the diffusion of the Toyota Production System – aka lean production – which has diffused across the globe as the preeminent production model for manufacturing and is increasingly being applied in healthcare (including the NHS), public administration (including HMRC), and beyond. 

We are studying the diffusion of technical knowledge in the form of the House of Lean, a simple graphic listing key principles, practices, tools, and goals (typically listed inside boxes representing a foundation, pillars, and a roof). We are collecting and will analyse a full census of all Houses of Lean published in English, French, and German across all 13 of the advanced capitalist economies where one of these is the official language: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Switzerland, UK, and USA.