Leading the world: the economic impact of UK arts and humanities research

In early 2008 the AHRC created an Impact Task Force to provide evidence to Government and other interested parties such as Parliament, the Higher Education sector, industry, the press, and the taxpayer of the value of the research it funds and how it generates value for the UK taxpayer. In 1997 the Science and Research Budget allocation was £1.3 billion. By 2007/8 it had more than doubled in real terms to £3.4 billion. Maintaining its commitment to a ring-fenced Science and Research Budget growing in real terms by 2.5% per annum, the Government’s allocations means that the budget will rise to almost £4 billion by the end of the Comprehensive Spending Review period (2010/11). Money spent on science and research is money not spent on other priority areas and the increase in expenditure and the current economic climate mean Government needs to be able to justify these allocations, as well as ensuring that public services are delivered effectively and efficiently. This report summarises why the £110 million that the UK Government allocates annually to the AHRC represents an excellent investment for the nation. The arts and humanities cover a very wide range of intellectual and practice-based disciplines and research areas. These include history, classics, archaeology, English literature, philosophy, religion, law, modern languages, linguistics, informatics, media studies, drama, and music and design. Research into these subjects is an investment that generates wealth, improves public policy and helps to maintain quality of life. To confirm the truth of this statement the report answers three critical questions: • Why is arts and humanities research important? • Whyshouldthetaxpayerpayforartsandhumanitiesresearch? • Why fund arts and humanities research through the AHRC