Research Programme: Approach

Purpose

The Economic Research Programme has been designed by the Welsh Government to provide research and analysis of the issues and challenges facing the Welsh economy. It primarily addresses economic development issues but can also cover aspects of community regeneration, rural development, education and lifelong learning, the environment, planning, transport and the labour market aspects of health.

Content

The overall content and direction of the programme is decided by the Welsh Government, drawing on the independent advice of the Economic Research Advisory Panel ("The Panel").  While it is intended that the programme should set out a rolling three year plan of research activity, various factors (such as changing economic circumstances, the policy development timetable, data availability and findings from other research exercises) will inevitably impact on the timing and content of the programme. The programme should therefore be considered indicative.

In July 2002 an initial programme of research was agreed by the Welsh Government.

In Autumn 2002, the Panel provided the Welsh Government with a 'long list' of research topics from which it planned to draw a long term Economic Research Programme. More than 60 economic development and research bodies, academics and others were subsequently invited to comment on these proposals. The Panel's recommendations for the Economic Research Programme, drawing on the feedback received, were agreed by the Welsh Government in March 2003. 

For more detailed information on the work of the Panel and its reports to the Welsh Government, please follow the hyperlink on the right hand side of this page.

Implementation

The Economic Research Programme is managed by the Economic Research Unit.

Most projects are subject to competitive tender, although some, mainly smaller-scale, ad hoc analyses, are undertaken internally by the Unit.

Quality assurance

Projects are generally managed by steering groups comprising representatives from appropriate Welsh Government divisions and external agencies. Each steering group oversees the project plan and timing, including the development of the project specification, tendering and agreement of the contractor.

The final reports of larger projects are quality assured, in confidence, by an external reviewer. All reports are circulated to the Panel for comment, and presentations may be arranged for some projects.  In-house studies are reviewed by the Welsh Government's Chief Economist. Panel members may be invited to undertake some reviews.  Further information is available on the Peer Review Process by following the link in the menu on the left hand side of the screen.

Dissemination

On completion of all projects, the final reports will be sent for consideration to appropriate Ministers of the Welsh Government. The reports are published on the Welsh Government's internet site and all the Assembly Subject Committees are informed.  To access all completed research submitted to the Welsh Government to date, click on the spotlight “Completed Research” on the right hand side of the page.

The outcomes of projects may be presented in a seminar to an invited audience of representatives of the Welsh Government, Government agencies, academics and other appropriate organisations.

A summary of the findings from the Economic Research Programme, plus summaries of other Government-funded economic research in Wales, are published in the Annual Reports on Government Funded Economic Research in Wales.  The reports can be found by clicking on the spotlight “Economic Research Advisory Panel” on the right hand side of the screen.