The ESRC Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE), based in the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick has been awarded £7.1 million to deliver its ambitions social science research vision over the next five years. CAGE will also receive support from the Department for Economics.

This is the third funding success for CAGE, which first won support from the UKRI Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in 2010 under the leadership of the late Professor Nick Crafts. It is one of four ESRC centres announced today.

This new award will support CAGE’s research programme for 5 years from January 2025, and recognises both the strong track record of CAGE’s work, and the relevance of its plans for interdisciplinary, challenge-led research using pioneering tools and approaches to address critical UK and global challenges.

The four themes CAGE will address over the next five years are Global Economic History; Designing and Building Better Institutions; Gender, Health and Wellbeing; and Responsive Public Policy.

Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor, said: “I am absolutely delighted that CAGE has been successful in its bid for funding.

“The University of Warwick is committed to tackling the multidisciplinary global challenges of today and the future, in the UK and around the world.

“When the Centre was founded in 2010, under the leadership of Professor Nick Crafts, its vision was to understand how countries succeed in the global economy and what barriers hold back progress.

“Under Professor Mirko Draca, CAGE has articulated an impressive interdisciplinary programme of research aimed at integrating the study of history and institutions with a pragmatic, problem-solving focus on evidence-based policy.

“I am particularly excited at the plans to develop the skills of the next generation of researchers and policy practitioners here in the West Midlands, through a variety of training and outreach programmes. This will contribute to our mission of making a real difference in our home region.”

Professor Ben Lockwood said, “On behalf of all in the Department I welcome today’s announcement of new funding for CAGE.

“We have been proud to support CAGE since its foundation in 2010, led by our much-missed colleague Nick Crafts. Under Nick’s guidance the Centre tackled one of the fundamental questions of economics – why are some countries rich and others poor? – with an eclectic, exciting programme of research.

“Mirko will lead CAGE into its next phase of evolution - tackling the question of how to make “what works, work” - but I am pleased to see that CAGE’s commitment to an historical and institutional perspective on current challenges will continue as a key pillar of CAGE’s work for the next 5 years, refreshed by new methods of data collection and analysis.

“Nick would have been absolutely thrilled to see CAGE on a secure financial footing for the next 5 years, as are we all.”

Professor Mirko Draca, Director of CAGE, said: “The focal point of CAGE going forward will be to revamp UK evidence-based policy to make 'what works, work'.

“It's not enough to know the technical solutions to a policy problem – we need to understand how technical solutions relate to social norms and cultural and historical legacies. After all, we live our lives in a society not an economy."

Stian Westlake, ESRC executive chair said, “Our centres are at the forefront of ground-breaking social science research, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and making a real difference. By supporting these centres, ESRC ensures long-term investment in crucial areas while giving researchers the freedom to explore and innovate.

“Three of these investments build on the work of centres that consistently delivered top-quality research that has positively influenced policy and improved lives. The wholly new centre will expand ESRC’s research portfolio even further, helping us understand the health effects of climate change.”

• Read CAGE's news story about the funding here

• Read the full UKRI announcement here.

NOTES:

• The Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy was established in January 2010 with a £3.7 million grant (CAGE I).

• In 2014 the ESRC awarded a further £3.5 million, for the 5 years from January 2015 (CAGE II)

• In 2018 CAGE received £2.09 million for the 5 years from January 2020 (CAGE Transition)

• Today’s announcement will cover 5 years from January 2025 (CAGE III)

About the Economic and Social Research Council  
The UKRI Economic and Social Research Council (ESRCLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window) is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRILink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window), a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government. We fund world-leading research, data and post-graduate training in the economic, behavioural, social and data sciences to understand people and the world around us. Our work helps raise productivity, address climate change, improve public services and generate a prosperous, inclusive, healthy and secure society. www.ukri.org/esrcLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window