Who is nef?
nef, formerly known as the New Economics Foundation, is a United Kingdom think tank and registered charity that conducts economic research, policy analysis, and applied programs focused on social and environmental well-being.
- Economic policy research and analysis
- Public policy recommendations and briefings
- Well-being measurement and alternative economic indicators
- Applied programs in local economic development and financial inclusion
- Commissioned research and impact assessment for public and social sector organizations
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More About nef
nef operates as an independent research and policy organization. Its work addresses how economic systems can support long-term social well-being, financial resilience, and environmental sustainability. Policymakers, public bodies, funders, and civil society organizations are the primary audiences for its research, which informs economic strategy and program design.
The organization's outputs include research reports, policy briefings, economic modeling, and advisory work on topics such as public spending, local economic development, financial inclusion, and the measurement of well-being. Its methods draw on economic analysis, social return and impact assessment approaches, and participatory research with communities. Its work includes well-being measurement tools that combine social and environmental indicators with conventional economic data, such as the Happy Planet Index.
The most relevant comparisons are other independent economic research institutes and think tanks that pair policy research with applied programs. Unlike commercial consulting firms, nef generally publishes its research as public output and advocacy, although it also undertakes commissioned projects. Its significance lies in providing alternative economic indicators and evidence that inform public debate on growth, inequality, and sustainability.
Directory positioning reflects its current solution areas in research and consulting services related to economic analysis, policy development, and impact measurement. Its active focus areas align with professional services for public and social sector organizations, with emphasis on evidence-based recommendations and applied research. Organizations evaluating its outputs typically consider the methodology, data sources, and relevance to their own economic or social objectives.
Our description of nef. Updated October 2026.