A growth mindset? Public understanding of British economic performance and attitudes to pro-growth policies

Britain is experiencing a prolonged period of economic stagnation, if not decline. Most people believe living standards have declined and that the country is heading in the wrong direction. Support for economic growth is broad and deep, spanning all age groups, regions and political affiliations, with most Britons believing the UK should place greater priority on growth. There is no public appetite for 'degrowth' narratives. However, many voters do not clearly grasp what economic growth means, what drives it, or why it matters. Younger voters in particular often struggle to connect growth with the benefits of productivity, business investment, and rising living standards. The public also remains sceptical about who benefits. While most people believe growth matters in principle, many worry that much of the gain will go to someone else - namely, government, big business and higher earners - rather than to themselves, their families and their communities. Although voters recognise that the economy is weak, they underestimate the scale of Britain's relative decline compared to peer economies and the United States. When confronted with the true picture, they react with shock and embarrassment, creating an emotional jolt that increases openness to change. Public opinion on the causes of stagnation is often confused and contradictory. Voters support market-orientated explanations for low growth, such as too-high taxes, too- 8 high energy costs, and excessive red tape, but they also endorse more interventionist strategies for achieving high levels of growth. This reflects a broader 'kitchen sink' mindset: wanting to throw everything at the problem. People distrust politicians and government, often blaming them for economic decline, yet still instinctively look to the state to fix the problem. This leads to frustration without a coherent diagnosis. Even so, there is real openness to pro-growth reform. A majority of Brits support measures such as reducing energy costs, cutting taxes, and easing regulation, especially when framed as resulting in lower bills, higher wages, more homes, and better public services. The biggest political obstacles to support for pro-growth measures are perceptions around fairness. Anti-growth arguments gain traction when people believe growth will deliver greater benefits to others, especially the wealthy, while imposing potential costs or greater risks on ordinary workers and families. Voters distrust big business and significantly overestimate profits, holding the belief that economic growth benefits corporations at the expense of consumers. Bridging this gap by emphasising the role of businesses in creating jobs, delivering prosperity, and boosting innovation, is key to building a credible case for economic growth. The central strategic lesson is that the case for growth must be practical rather than abstract, grounded in tangible benefits. To build a durable mandate for reform, growth must be linked directly to personal and local benefits, while it is made clear that Britain's stagnation is the result of barriers that can be removed, failures that can be reversed and political choices that can be changed.