Cost of Living Research Group
The University of York has a long tradition of groundbreaking research on poverty, inequality, social justice, social policy and politics.
Today as a University for Public Good, we are bringing together our expertise from across the University to focus on the drivers of the cost of living, and its impact on the wellbeing of people and communities.
Getting the Child Poverty Strategy right
A new report from The York Policy Engine's Cost of Living research group examines the reasons for growing child poverty in the UK over the past ten years, and outlines an ambitious strategy that the new government should take to confront this reality.
Getting the Child Poverty strategy right (PDF 
, 1,792kb)
Cost of Living report
The UK’s social safety net is failing. This previous report from The York Policy Engine's Cost of Living Research Group details growing levels of inequality across the nation.
Sticking Plasters and Systemic Solutions report (PDF , 2,577kb)
We work across a wide range of issues, supported by The York Policy Engine with funding from Research England. Our people and projects shape policy locally, regionally and nationally. Alongside our efforts as an academic community, the University of York is also supporting students and staff through the cost of living crisis.
These pages provide further information about who we are, our research projects and our blogs.
Read our news and blogs
This blog from Carolyn Snell and Nicholas Pleace accompanies a new policy brief and explores how households in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) have been especially impacted by the energy crisis.
On 4th February 2025, Family Finances held a House of Lords Roundtable, hosted by Baroness Ruth Lister, to explore the impact of cash transfers to families with children.
We note with sadness the passing of our colleague Antonia Keung on 1 October 2024
4 millionin food poverty in September 2022, up 50 per cent from April 2022.
4.3 millionchildren (30% of all UK children) living in poverty - up from 3.6 million in 2010-11
38%stressed by financial situation
10.3% increase in households in temporary accommodation from September 2022 to September 2023
4,950excess UK winter deaths caused by living in cold homes during winter 2022/23
8 millionadults (15% of households) experienced food insecurity in January 2024, up from 9% in January 2022
Our publications
- Evidence presented to child poverty discussion (PDF , 264kb)
- Fuel poverty is still with us
- Water poverty and social tariffs
- Looking for a lifeline: Modelling a single social tariff for water bills
- Comparing child poverty using the Luxembourg income study
- Reverse the benefit cap to tackle poor child health
- Corporations and the cost of living crisis: Corporate involvement in UK food charity
- Short-term changes in financial situation have immediate mental health consequences: Implications for social policy
- Passing the buck from Whitehall to town hall: local government responses to the cost-of-living crisis in England
- 'Ending child poverty: How it can be done'
- Sticking plaster support: the Household Support Fund and localised assistance in the UK welfare state. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice
- Compounding the hardship: The two-child limit, the benefit cap and the cost of living crisis
- Homelessness and Fuel Poverty: Exploring the extreme end of the Cost of Living crisis
- Is a social tariff for energy feasible and effective?
Our researchers
Chaired by Professor Kate Pickett, The York Cost of Living Research Group's members are divided across schools and departments within the University.
Its members work within the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Sciences and across the research themes of Justice and Equality and Health and Wellbeing.
Health Sciences
School for Business and Society
- Kate Andersen
- Jonathan Bradshaw
- John Hudson
- Jim Kaufman
- Antonia Keung
- Neil Lunt
- Ruth Patrick
- Nicholas Pleace
- Carolyn Snell
- Karen Rowlingson
- Uisce Jordan
- Aniela Wenham
- Kelli Kennedy
- Anna Browning
- Sara Anderson
Economics and Related Studies
- Emma Tominey
- Cheti Nicoletti
- James Baraniak
Centre for Health Economics
York Law School
The group is supported The York Policy Engine and Professor Evan Kontopantelis, University of Manchester.