Since joining the City-REDI Team in July 2019 I have explored many interesting concepts in economics, entrepreneurship and business. I graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2015 with a degree in BA Political Economy where I looked into the main characteristics of the National and Global Economy. In particular, I enjoyed looking at how … Continue reading “Meet Josh Swan, Policy and Data Analyst at City-REDI”
What Is the Point of Devolution?
It is not uncommon to hear that the UK is the most centralised country in the developed world. London utterly dominates the rest of the country to an extent that is quite remarkable. From politics to business, media to culture, the wealth and power of the UK is almost entirely within London’s orbit. Indeed, if … Continue reading “What Is the Point of Devolution?”
Meet Fengjie Pan, City REDI’s New Productivity Research Fellow
My name is Fengjie and I recently joined the City-REDI Team working on the Productivity Project. I am from China, and completed my MPhil and PhD in the University of Manchester. My PhD in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy explored the knowledge sharing and co-creation in service innovation based on the Knowledge-Intensive Business Services. I … Continue reading “Meet Fengjie Pan, City REDI’s New Productivity Research Fellow”
The Long-Run Consequences of Adverse Economic Shocks: UK Regional and Urban Inequalities
The UK today is deeply divided between prosperous places and lagging regions. The UK economy has become extremely unbalanced, in the sense that the UK is now one of the world’s most inter-regionally unequal countries (Rice et al. 2006; Martin 2015; Martin et al. 2018; McCann 2019a,b). The prosperous parts of the UK today exhibit … Continue reading “The Long-Run Consequences of Adverse Economic Shocks: UK Regional and Urban Inequalities”
Data for Good. How Has Data Transformed Today’s Social Sciences?
At the beginning was Big Data, then Machine Learning came and now is the time of AI. Since buzzwords emerge faster than the innovation waves they describe, the conceptualization of digital transformation remains sometimes vague, although it can be considered the result of convergence among advances made in several related information and communication technologies (ICTs). … Continue reading “Data for Good. How Has Data Transformed Today’s Social Sciences?”
The Role of Embeddedness on Regional Economic Resilience: Evidence from the UK
In this blog, Tasos Kitsos outlines the main findings of joint research with André Carrascal-Incera and Raquel Ortega-Argilés on the role of local industrial embeddedness and economic resilience. A lot has been said and written on the importance of circular economies and local economic embeddedness for generating good growth and resilience. However, to date, it … Continue reading “The Role of Embeddedness on Regional Economic Resilience: Evidence from the UK”
West Midlands Economic Monitor: August 2019
August’s edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available for you to keep up to date with recent developments in the region. This month’s monitor reveals that PMI data has improved, the region is bucking the trend on investment and a tall-build boom in Birmingham continues to gain momentum. Get the latest edition … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Monitor: August 2019”
Housing and Local Industrial Strategy: Reflections on the 100th Anniversary of the Addison Act
On 11 November 1918, the war to end all wars, World War 1, ended with the signing of the armistice. The next day, David Lloyd George, then UK prime minister, called a general election promising that the government would provide “habitations fit for the heroes who have won the war”. This became known as the … Continue reading “Housing and Local Industrial Strategy: Reflections on the 100th Anniversary of the Addison Act”
The Importance of Connectivity: If HS2 and the Midlands Rail Hub Are Delivered the Whole Region Will Benefit
In the latest City-REDI West Midlands Economic Monitor we noted how Midlands Connect has submitted a £2 billion plan for a Midlands Rail Hub The proposal would see 24 extra passenger trains for East-West connectivity, including faster connectivity times for towns and cities across the Midlands, including Nottingham and Hereford. The plan would see Moor … Continue reading “The Importance of Connectivity: If HS2 and the Midlands Rail Hub Are Delivered the Whole Region Will Benefit”
Meet Ben Brittain – Policy and Data Analyst, City-REDI
In 1890 an American magazine praised Birmingham as ‘above else a business city, run by businessmen on business principles,’ this admiring review was a result of Birmingham’s international reputation as a commercial city of industry, services and – following Joseph Chamberlain’s reforms – of civic dignity. Joseph Chamberlain’s successful reforms were based crucially on his … Continue reading “Meet Ben Brittain – Policy and Data Analyst, City-REDI”