Publications

The WISERD Multi-Cohort Study (WMCS) is an annual longitudinal study to chart the progress of children and young people growing up in Wales. Each year, we follow three cohorts from schools across Wales and ask questions about their experiences of school and their perspectives on national and international issues. Here, we provide a summary of…

This Research Note presents new estimates of trade union membership derived for detailed geographical areas across Great Britain. Analysis reveals the wide variations in union density that exist both across the country and within particular regions.  Over the period 2000-2021, union density is shown to vary between 10% in Kensington and Chelsea to 54% in…

This Statistical Compendia is based on research supported by the Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods (WISERD). Those who wish to use this data should cite its source as: Davies R., Bryson A. and Jones S. (2022) Geographical Variations in Trade Union Membership – 2000-2021, Cardiff: Wales Institute of Social &…

This paper introduces initial work on the availability of railway stations and rail services in Wales. It investigates how accessible the rail network is to 193 key settlements using the concept of transport availability – the degree to which railway stations can be accessed based on a variety of measures such as proximity, transport provision,…

This Research Note presents new estimates of trade union membership derived for detailed geographical areas across Great Britain. Analysis reveals the wide variations in union density that exist both across the country and within particular regions.  Over the period 2000-2019, union density is shown to vary between 9% in Kensington and Chelsea to 54% in…

Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy: Contemporary Applications for Spatially Integrated Social Science 14(3) pp 449-472 In response to changing consumer habits driven by the advance of online services and mobile apps, substantial reductions in the provision of bank branches have been widely documented over the last decade. Such closures have economic consequences for the sustainability of…

Welsh Government policy establishes town centres as central places of community activity and local prosperity, recognising the positive impact towns have on the local economy and the well-being and cohesion felt amongst local communities. In light of this, recent declines in the usage of town centres are a major cause for concern. These have not…

This report reveals the latest figures of Wales’ Towns and Cities including the number of retail premises, the vacancy rates, the retail structure and the relationship with socio-economic characteristics and geographical typology. The main takeaways: The vacancy rate decreased in Wales in all three location types (Retail parks, high streets and shopping centres) that LDC track and…

Public libraries make an important contribution to the wellbeing of local people often acting as community hubs by reducing the isolation felt by vulnerable members of society through promoting social interaction and supporting the wider needs of local communities. However, access to libraries is threatened in Wales, as elsewhere in the UK, by uncertainty stemming…

Aim The aim of the European Social Fund (ESF) Leavers Surveys is to assist in assessing the effectiveness of labour market interventions delivered under ESF. The purpose of this analysis is to conduct a combined examination of data from the 2009-2013 ESF Leavers Surveys to undertake a project-type level analysis and to facilitate more detailed…