West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 3rd September 2021

Global news has been dominated by the departure of allied forces from Afghanistan. Nationally, the number of daily new Covid-19 cases per million people confirmed in the UK remains easily the highest out of the selected European countries and is at a level slightly above that recorded for the USA. Economically disruption to supply chains … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 3rd September 2021”

Four propositions for the Much-Anticipated Levelling Up White Paper

Will Rossiter,  Anne Green and Rebecca Riley discuss new research that identifies a number of challenges for the upcoming Levelling Up White Paper.  Recent research from City-REDI/ WMREDI at the University of Birmingham and Nottingham Business School at Nottingham Trent University on the geography and functioning of places and the institutions, practice and policies associated … Continue reading “Four propositions for the Much-Anticipated Levelling Up White Paper”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 16th April 2021

The latest GDP figures indicate the scale of recovery required as service businesses, including shops, restaurants and hairdressers, begin to re-open their doors this week. However, unlike the recessions of the past, many jobs have been retained (due to furlough and other government schemes), and as lockdowns are in place, many individuals have saved up … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 16th April 2021”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 26th March 2021

This week, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that productivity grew at the fastest rate on record in the middle of 2020 when compared with the quarter before, but this fell away again in the last three months of the year. This was mainly because the least productive industries were those hardest hit by … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 26th March 2021”

Migrant Workers in Construction

Professor Anne Green discusses a recent research study report led by IFF Research with City-REDI and Warwick IER looking at the impact of the new Points-Based Immigration System on the construction industry in the UK. In February 2021 the Construction Industry Training Board published the latest results from a series of annual studies on Migrant … Continue reading “Migrant Workers in Construction”

Inequalities and the COVID-19 Crisis

Professor Anne Green examines education, work, health, ethnic and generational inequalities in the West Midlands before and after the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.   Introduction In 2019 the Nuffield Foundation funded a major study, chaired by Sir Angus Deaton, to assemble the evidence on the causes and consequences of different forms of inequalities, and the … Continue reading “Inequalities and the COVID-19 Crisis”

Workshop Series: Megatrends and Cities – Understanding the Future

In 2020 The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has published the Annual State of the Region report in collaboration with WMREDI partners. This identified a number of major trends which will affect the region in the future. The WMCA and partners are now exploring trends in more detail in collaboration with City-REDI (in part supported … Continue reading “Workshop Series: Megatrends and Cities – Understanding the Future”

The Economic Geography of the West Midlands

The State of the Region report provides an in-depth look at West Midlands, its past performance, the impact of COVID-19 and Brexit and what the future might hold. The report was developed and supported by the WM REDI partnership to help deepen our knowledge and understanding of the region.   Find out more and download a … Continue reading “The Economic Geography of the West Midlands”

Changes to the UK Immigration System After the Brexit Transition Period

Professor Anne Green discusses how Brexit, recession and COVID-19 will impact immigration to the UK and create an unpredictable situation where some sectors and occupations may struggle to meet their labour and skills needs.  This is part two of a blog series on International Travel, Migration and Immigration. View the first blog.  Summary Recession and … Continue reading “Changes to the UK Immigration System After the Brexit Transition Period”

COVID-19 and the Impact on International Mobility and Migration

In this blog, Professor Anne Green discusses the COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions which have led to a marked reduction in international travel and immigration to the UK. It has also disrupted the collection of statistics on international travel and immigration. Across various indicators, there has been a reduction in immigration to the UK. … Continue reading “COVID-19 and the Impact on International Mobility and Migration”