Making social science accessible

What is a recession?

A recession is an economic downturn where the gross domestic product (GDP) of a country declines, often leading to higher unemployment.The technical definition – used by economists and central banks to determine whether an economy is in a recession – is two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.
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Who are the judges of the European Court of Human Rights?

The European Court of Human Rights is made up of one judge from each of the 46 member states of the Council…

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What is fiscal headroom?

Fiscal headroom refers to the amount of leeway or buffer the government has within its generally self-imposed fiscal rules to increase spending or cut taxes. These rules are intended to keep public finances under control and maintain the confidence of the market and the public.
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What is non-refoulement?

The principle of non-refoulement guarantees that a person cannot be returned to a country where they would face torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and other irreparable harm. A country violates the principle of non-refoulement if they send the person to a third country where they are at risk of refoulment, or being sent to the country of origin where their life or freedom would be threatened.
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What is the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds?

When standing down from the House of Commons, MPs are given a new job – either as Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds, or Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead. Holding either of these positions is incompatible with being a Member of Parliament, as it’s thought that MPs cannot scrutinise other Crown Offices whilst holding one themselves.
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What is an interim measure (or Rule 39 order) of the European Court of Human Rights?

Interim measures (or ‘Rule 39 orders’) are urgent orders issued by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on an exceptional basis, where there is an ‘real risk of serious and irreversible harm’.
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What is an Autumn Statement? 

An Autumn Statement is an update from the Chancellor to MPs on the government’s taxation and spending plans.
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What is fiscal drag?

Fiscal drag occurs when inflation and earnings rise, but tax thresholds or tax bands do not increase with inflation.
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What is a three-line whip?

A three-line whip is an instruction by a political party to attend and vote in support of a party’s position in Parliament….

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Is there a right to strike in the UK?

There is no right to strike under UK law. However, under Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, everyone has…

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What is the energy price cap?

The ‘default tariff cap’ – widely called the energy price cap – determines the maximum price per unit customers can pay for…

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What is a windfall tax?

A windfall tax is levied against companies deemed to have made excessively high profits, or a ‘windfall’, from circumstances they themselves did not engineer. Learn more here.
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