Foundational Economy Research Ltd (FERL)
Foundational Economy Research (FERL) is an action-research agency based in Manchester, UK.
We develop new thinking and practical approaches to the Foundational Economy—the everyday systems that make places and communities liveable and enjoyable, including food provision, housing, welfare, employment, social infrastructure and transport.
We work with community organisations, NGOs and local governments to unlock pathways for change and improvement through tailored research, education, and mentoring.
Our core team brings together academics with a strong commitment to social change and well-established expertise in analysing company accounts and official statistics as well as conducting qualitative social research.
Browse our reports on Wales, Liveability and on Water and Utilities.
For an introduction to our current thinking see our latest position paper Grey Sky thinking.
For an in-depth exploration see our books When Nothing Works and Murky Water.
Our partner organisations are:
Foundational Economy Wales is a membership organisation which brings together practitioners from government, think tanks, third sector and trade bodies with academic colleagues who are developing the foundational agenda in Wales. It is an alliance which brings together groups in housing and in care and holds bimonthly open zoom meetings to share learnings. Website
Foundational Economy Collective
The Foundational Economy Collective is a loose international grouping of European academics and practitioners, which is the umbrella organisation for all who are engaged in foundational research and practice. The Collective organises an annual conference and hosts a website for our research reports and working papers. Website
Header photo: By User:Stemonitis – Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 2.5,