Our Work
Redesigning prosperity for the 21st century
At the Institute for Global Prosperity (IGP), our mission is clear: to build a prosperous and sustainable global future rooted in fairness, justice and a long-term understanding of humanity’s place within the Earth’s systems.
We challenge dominant economic paradigms by recognising that economies and societies are inseparable from the health of natural systems, and that genuine prosperity must remain within planetary boundaries, while advancing social equity and intergenerational justice.
Of particular importance to our approach is the way in which we integrate non-academic expertise into knowledge generation by engaging with governments, policy makers, business, civil society, the arts and local communities.
Our transdisciplinary approach – integrating social sciences, ecological economics, and systems thinking – enables us to co-design context-sensitive pathways toward sustainable, regenerative and inclusive prosperity.
Turning ideas into real impact
Our research is organised in four core research themes.
These themes are grounded in tangible work. They are supported by long-standing projects, innovative short courses, and collaborations at both national and international levels.
Each theme encompasses “dense moments” of research and practice – high-impact initiatives that sustain and expand our impact.
THEMES
New Economy for the 21st century
The Future of Political Life
Data & AI for social purpose
Life-sustaining systems
Explore our projects
Coming soon
What People Are Saying
“The interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of the IGP make it a unique place to work at.
The environment is intellectually stimulating, and the research has a direct impact on addressing social and economic inequalities, sustainability, and well-being on a global scale.”
— Jose Izcue Gana, PROCOL UK Project Officer
“Universities can play a key role in working with communities to create and share transformative knowledge.”
— Professor Henrietta L. Moore, Founder and Director
“The Institute facilitates my work by providing new and unique perspectives on the problems and solutions I'm working on.”
— Ida Kubiszewski, Associate Professor
Place-based, collaborative research
We work with communities to understand the needs of a diverse society and present inclusive solutions to local government.
Together with civil society, government and citizens, we aim to drive a sustained shift in public debate, policymaking, investment and community action for shared prosperity.
Training citizens to drive policy change
Together with the University College London Office for Open Science, we launched the UCL Citizen Science Academy, an ambitious new initiative to deliver community-based, practice-led research training to empower communities to lead change through social action and shaping policies that impact their livelihoods.
The Academy’s principles and programmes build on lessons from our citizen social science projects in the UK, Lebanon, Kenya, Tanzania, and Cuba, as well as the multiple citizen science projects running across various disciplines at the UCL.
A whole-systems approach for social innovation
We developed the idea and theory behind Universal Basic Services and published the UK’s first report and proposal for Universal Basic Services in 2017.
Among rising living costs and the threat of climate change, Universal Basic Services would enhance people’s capacities and capabilities, bringing opportunities for economic and social participation through a shared infrastructure of public services.
Social protection systems that are more efficient, not dependent on economic growth, and embedded in the social infrastructure of communities through access to services, will make them more resilient and crisis-resistant.
Bringing entrepreneurs together to tackle the SDGs
We've established Fast Forward, a network of impact entrepreneurs to accelerate change and create prosperity for all, through peer-to-peer learning, capacity building and collective partnership.
Fast Forward is one of many of our Knowledge Networks, expert multi-stakeholder teams within the IGP, drawing on the academy, business, government and civil society, charged with identifying, delivering and designing new ideas, concepts, and methods to address emerging challenges and solutions.
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