Our Aims and Objectives

We are the UK association for all those who research, study and teach global development issues

Find Out More

What is Development Studies

What is development studies and decolonising development.

Find Out More

Our Members

We have around 1,000 members, made up of individuals and around 40 institutions

Find Out More

Governance

Find out about our constitution, how we are run and meet our Council

Find Out More

People

Meet our Council members and other staff who support the running of DSA

Find Out More

About

The DSA Conference is an annual event which brings together the development studies community

Find Out More

DSA2026

Our conference this year is themed "Reimagining Development: Power, Agency, and Futures in an Uncertain World"

Find Out More

Past Conferences

Find out about our previous conferences

Find Out More

Study Groups

Our Study Groups offer a chance to connect with others who share your areas of interest

Find Out More

Students and ECRs

Students and early career researchers are an important part of our community

Find Out More

Publications

Our book series with OUP and our relationship with other publishers

Find Out More

Decolonising Development

The initiatives we are undertaking that work towards decolonising development studies

Find Out More

Membership Directory

Find out who our members are, where they are based and the issues they work on

Find Out More

Contribute your research to the ACSS “Good Growth” project

How can the UK achieve growth that is fair, inclusive, and sustainable?

That’s the question at the heart of the Academy of Social Sciences’ Good Growth project — and development researchers are invited to share their insights.

Since the 2007–2009 financial crisis, the UK has faced persistently slow growth and declining productivity, alongside some of the highest levels of inequality in the OECD. The Good Growth initiative brings together research and evidence from across the social sciences to help policymakers and the public understand what kinds of growth the UK should be pursuing — and how this can be achieved in ways that balance economic, social, and environmental priorities.

Why contribute?

The Good Growth project provides a platform for social scientists to bring their research into real-world policy conversations. Articles published on the Good Growth website are read by:

  • Parliamentarians and policymakers
  • Civil society leaders and practitioners
  • The academic community and interested public audiences

Your contribution can help ensure that policy decisions are informed by the best available social science evidence — demonstrating how rigorous research can illuminate paths toward fairer, more sustainable prosperity.

What kind of articles are needed?

The Good Growth hub welcomes concise, research-based pieces (ideally under 1,000 words) that:

  • Address a policy challenge related to achieving “good growth”
  • Present research evidence to clarify the nature and scale of that challenge
  • Offer potential solutions or insights drawn from social science research
  • Conclude with one or two clear policy recommendations

Articles should be readable and engaging for a mixed audience, non-partisan in tone, and make use of hyperlinks (rather than academic references) for sources.

Possible themes

Development researchers might consider contributing on topics such as:

  • Regional inequalities and place-based growth strategies
  • The role of education, skills, and human capital in productivity
  • Green and inclusive industrial transitions
  • Social infrastructure and wellbeing as components of growth
  • Lessons from international development for UK policy

How to submit

Submitting is straightforward — simply email your draft or idea directly to the ACSS team. They provide light-touch editing and work with authors to finalise their piece. Once published, articles are promoted through ACSS channels and social media, reaching a wide policy and research audience.

If you’d like to see examples of past contributions or get a sense of tone and style, visit the Achieving Good Growth hub on the ACSS website. Contact DSA Comms for full contact details of the team at the ACSS.