I joined CRSP in 2009 and since this time I have led research relating to living standards, poverty and social exclusion in the UK and abroad, focusing on public conceptions and understanding of living standards, and how these can be used within public policy.
Much of this research has centred around the application and development of Minimum Income Standard (MIS) approach, and I currently lead the quantitative elements of this ongoing work, oversee the management and application of MIS data and play a central role in liaison with users and stakeholders. I lead research on living standards in London and also lead the MIS Global Network, founded in 2018 to support MIS work across the globe, establish links with researchers in other countries and develop new collaborative projects. I deliver training in the MIS approach and its application internationally and have worked with colleagues on MIS projects in Portugal, South Africa, Mexico, Singapore and Thailand. I have a particular interest in exploring the application of the MIS approach in the global South.
I have pioneered work on Retirement Living Standards, building on the established MIS programme, that has been adopted across the UK pensions industry, providing an evidence base for savers thinking about and planning their retirements.
As an experienced qualitative and quantitative researcher, I have also worked on a wide range of other projects including national policy evaluations, secondary data analysis of large UK surveys and in-depth qualitative research with low-income households and individuals. I have advised and consulted for a wide range of organisations, including Birmingham City Council, the Money and Pensions Service, Oxfam and Unite the Union. My principal research interests are in understanding the patterns, causes and consequences of social disadvantage, particularly with regard to income, and my research has included work on living standards and income adequacy, housing affordability, poverty measurement and international conceptions of living standards.
Recent publications
- Yates, S., Hill, K., Blackwell, C., Davis, A., Padley, M., Stone, E., Polizzi, G., D’Arcy, J., Harris, R., Sheppard, P., Singleton, A., Ye, Z., Carmi, E. and Garikipati, S. (2024) A Minimum Digital Living Standard for Households with Children: Overall Findings Report. Liverpool: University of Liverpool.
- Yates, S., Hill, K., Blackwell, C., Davis, A., Padley, M., Stone, E., Polizzi, G., D’Arcy, J., Harris, R., Sheppard, P., Singleton, A., Ye, Z., Carmi, E. and Garikipati, S. (2024) A Minimum Digital Living Standard for Households with Children: Survey Report. Liverpool: University of Liverpool.
- Padley, M., Stone, J. and Robinson, E. (2024) Households living below a Minimum Income Standard: 2008-2022. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Padley, M., Blackwell, C., Davis, A., Hill, K. and Stone, J. (2024) Retirement living standards in the UK in 2023. London: Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
- Stone, J., Shepherd, C., Ellis, W. and Padley, M. (2023) Constructing a Decent Living Index. Edinburgh: abrdn Financial Fairness Trust
- Padley, M. and Stone, J. (2023) A Minimum Income Standard for the United Kingdom in 2023. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Padley, M., Davis, A., Blackwell, C., Shepherd, C. and Stone, J. (2023) A Minimum Income Standard for London 2022. London: Trust for London
- Padley, M. and Davis, A. (2023) The Minimum Income Standard: Understanding the cost of education to households in the UK. London: Child Poverty Action Group
- Padley, M. and Stone, J. (2023) Households below the Minimum Income Standard: 2008-2021. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Blackwell, C., Davis, A., Hill, K., Padley, M. and Yates, S. (2023) A UK Minimum Digital Living Standard for Households with Children. Loughborough: Centre for Research in Social Policy
- Yates, S., Hill, K., Blackwell, C., Stone, E., Polizzia, G., Harris, R., D’Arcya, J., Davis, A., Padley, M., Roberts, D., Lovell, J. and Lainge, H. (2023) Towards a Welsh Minimum Digital Living Standard: final report Cardiff: Welsh Government
- Padley, M. (2023) Retirement Living Standards: 2022 update. London: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association.
- Davis, A., Stone, J., Blackwell, C., Padley, M., Shepherd, C. and Hirsch, D. (2022) A Minimum Income Standard in the UK for 2022. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Padley, M. (2022) A minimum London weighting - a revised and updated approach. London: Trust for London.
- Padley, M. (2022) A technical report on the calculation of a minimum London Weighting. London: Trust for London.
- Padley, M. and Stone, J. (2022) Households below a Minimum Income Standard: 2008/09 - 2019/20 York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2021) The Impact of Covid-19 on thinking about and planning for retirement. London: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association.
- Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2021) Retirement Living Standards in the UK in 2021. London: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association.
- Davis, A., Bryan, A., Hirsch, D., Ellen, J., Shepherd, C. and Padley, M. (2021) The cost of remoteness - reflecting higher living costs in remote rural Scotland when measuring fuel poverty Edinburgh: Scottish Government
- Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2021) A Minimum Income Standard in the UK for 2021. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Padley, M., Davis, A., Shepherd, C. and Stone, J. (2021) A Minimum Income Standard for London 2020. London: Trust for London.
- Padley, M. and Stone, J. (2021) Households below a Minimum Income Standard: 2008/09 to 2018/19. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Hill, K., Padley, M. and Stone, J. (2020) Exploring affordability: what can housing associations do to better support their tenants? Loughborough, Centre for Research in Social Policy.
- Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2020) A Minimum Income Standard for the United Kingdom in 2020. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Wright, G., Padley, M. and Zembe-Mkabile, W. (2020) 'A South African pilot of the Minimum Income Standards Approach’ in C. Deeming (ed.) Minimum Income Standards and Reference Budgets: international and comparative policy perspectives. Bristol: Policy Press.
- Padley, M. and Davis, A. (2020) 'Applying the Minimum Income Standard in diverse national contexts’ in C. Deeming (ed.) Minimum Income Standards and Reference Budgets: international and comparative policy perspectives. Bristol: Policy Press.
- Padley, M. (2020) A Minimum Income Standard for London 2019. London: Trust for London.
- Hirsch, D., Concialdi, P., Math, A., Padley, M., Pereira, E., Pereirinha, J., and Thornton, R. (2020) The Minimum Income Standard and equivalisation: Reassessing relative costs of singles and couples and of adults and children. Journal of Social Policy, 1-20. doi:10.1017/S0047279419001004
- Hirsch, D., Padley, M., Stone, J. and Valadez-Martinez, L. Social Indicators Research. The Low Income Gap: A New Indicator Based on a Minimum Income Standard. (2020) DOI 10.1007/s11205-019-02241-6
- Padley, M. and Stone, J. (2020) Households below a Minimum Income Standard: 2008/09 to 2017/18. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2019) Developing Retirement Living Standards. London: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association.
- Padley, M., Davis, A., Shepherd, C. and Stone, J. (2019) A Minimum Income Standard for London 2018. London: Trust for London
- Stone, J., Padley, M. and Hirsch, D. (2019) Households below a Minimum Income Standard: 2008/09-2016/17. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Padley, M. and Marshall, L. (2018) Defining and measuring housing affordability using the Minimum Income Standard, Housing Studies, DOI: 10.1080/02673037.2018.1538447
- Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2018) A Minimum Income Standard for the UK, 2008-2018: continuity and change. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- O'Connell, R., Owen, C., Padley, M., Simon, A., and Brannen, J. (2018) 'Which Types of Family are at Risk of Food Poverty in the UK? A Relative Deprivation Approach', Social Policy and Society. doi:10.1017/S1474746418000015
- Padley, M. (2017) A Minimum Income Standard for London 2017. London: Trust for London.
- Davis, A. and Padley, M. (2017) 'What the Minimum Income Standard Tells Us About Living Standards in the United Kingdom' in Fee, D. and Kober-Smith, A. (eds.) Inequalities in the UK: New Discourses, Evolutions and Actions. Bingley: Emerald Publishing Ltd.
- Padley, M., Valadez-Martinez, L. and Hirsch, D. (2017) Households below a Minimum Income Standard: 2009/09 to 2015/16. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Valadez-Martínez, L., Padley, M. and Torres Penagos, M.F. (2017) ‘A dignified standard of living in Mexico: results of a pilot study of the Minimum Income Standard approach’, Social Indicators Research. doi:10.1007/s11205-017-1780-4
- Davis, A., Hirsch, D. and Padley, M. (2017) ‘The Minimum Income Standard as a benchmark of a ‘participatory social minimum’’, Journal of Poverty and Social Justice. doi:10.1332/175982717X15087736009278
- Padley, M. and Hirsch, D. (2017) A Minimum Income Standard for the UK in 2017. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Padley, M., Davis, A. Hirsch, D., Horsley, N. and Valadez, L. (2017) A Minimum Income Standard for London 2016/17. London: Trust for London.
- Padley, M., Hirsch, D. and Valadez, L. (2017) Households below a Minimum Income Standard: 2008/09 to 2014/15. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Byaruhanga, C., Davis, A., Mpike, M., Ntshongwana, P., Padley, M., Wright, G. and Zembe-Mkabile, W. (2017) A Decent Living level: a pilot of the Minimum Income Standard Approach in South Africa. Cape Town: SASPRI.
- Hill, K., Horsley, N., Hirsch, D. and Padley, M. (2017) Sight Loss and Minimum Income Standards: the additional costs of severity and age. Loughborough: Centre for Research in Social Policy.
- Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Valadez, L. (2016) A poverty indicator based on a minimum income standard. Loughborough: Centre for Research in Social Policy.
- Davis, A., Hill, K., Hirsch, D. and Padley, M. (2016) A Minimum Income Standard for the UK in 2016. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Padley, M. and Hirsch, D. (2016) Households below a Minimum Income Standard: 2008/09 to 2013/14. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Hill, K., Marshall, L., Padley, M. and Hirsch, D. (2016) Sight Loss and Minimum Living Standards: the additional costs of living for people of working age who are severely sight impaired and for people of pension age with acquired sight impairment. Loughborough: Centre for Research in Social Policy.
- Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Marshall, L. (2015) How much is enough? Reaching social consensus on minimum household needs Loughborough: Centre for Research in Social Policy.
- Padley, M. and Valadez, L. (2015) Making ends meet in Birmingham: assessing the impact of the living wage and welfare reform. Loughborough: Centre for Research in Social Policy.
- Padley, M., Marshall, L., Hirsch, D., Davis, A. and Valadez, L. (2015) A Minimum Income Standard for London. London: Trust for London.
- Hill, K., Hirsch, D. and Padley, M. (2015) Minimum budgets for single people sharing accommodation. CRSP Working Paper 642. Loughborough: Centre for Research in Social Policy.
- Eckley, B. and Padley, M. (2015) Tell me your story: starting conversations about poverty in England. London: Church Urban Fund.
- Hill, K., Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Smith, N. (2015) Disability and minimum living standards: The additional costs of living for people who are sight impaired and people who are Deaf. Loughborough: Centre for Research in Social Policy.
- Padley, M., Valadez, L. and Hirsch, D. (2015) Households below a minimum income standard: 2008/09 to 2012/13. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Valadez, L. (2014) Making ends meet in Leicester. Leicester: Leicester City Council.
- Davis, A., Hirsch, D and Padley, M. (2014) A Minimum Income Standard for the UK in 2014 York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Padley, M. and Hirsch, D. (2014) Households below a Minimum Income Standard: 2008/9 to 2011/12. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Padley, M., Bevan, M., Tunstall, B. and Hirsch, D. (2013) . Loughborough: Loughborough University.
- Davis, A. and Padley, M. (2013) Household Costs and Foster Care. Loughborough: Loughborough University.
- Hirsch,D., Bryan, A., Davis, A., Smith, N., Ellen, J. and Padley, M. (2013) A minimum income standard for remote rural Scotland. Inverness: Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
- Padley, M. and Hirsch, D. (2013) Households below a Minimum Income Standard: 2008/09 to 2010/11. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Padley, M. (2013) 'Delivering Localism: The Critical Role of Trust and Collaboration', Social Policy and Society, 12, Article, pp 343-354 Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 DOI: 10.1017/S1474746413000134.
- Padley, M. and Hirsch, D. (2013) Child Poverty Map of the UK. London: End Child Poverty.
- Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Smith, N., Beckhelling, J. and Padley, M. (2012) A Minimum Income Standard for the UK in 2012. Keeping up in hard times. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Holmes, L. J., McDermid, S., Padley, M. J., & Soper, J. (2012). Exploration of the costs and impact of the Common Assessment Framework. London: Department for Education.
- Perren, K., Roberts, S., Stafford, B., Hirsch, D. & Padley, M. (2012) Evaluation of the Implementation of the Equality Act 2010: Report 3 – Disputes and Challenges. London: Government Equalities Office.
- Hartfree, Y., Padley, M., Perren, K. and Signoretta, P. (2012) Sustaining Debt Repayments. Experiences of people in informal repayment arrangements. London: Money Advice Trust.
- Perren, K., Harvey, J., Hill, K., Hartfree, Y. and Padley, M. (2011) Evaluation of the 50+ Face-to-Face Guidance Pilot. Research Report No. 720. London: Department for Work and Pensions.
- Signoretta, P., Smith, N., Holmes, L., Beckhelling, J., Hartfree, Y., Hill, K., Manful, E., Padley, M., Perren, K. and Waring, A. (2011) Evaluation of DWP Financial Inclusion Champions Initiative: Final Report and Appendices. London: HM Treasury.
- View all publications on central database.