Dr Huanjia Ma recently contributed to a Business and Trade Committee call for evidence on behalf of City-REDI, University of Birmingham. This blog explores his submission. The committee was trying to understand the major challenges facing UK businesses and the economy, including costs, regulation, skills shortages, and investment barriers. This in turn would help support … Continue reading “Understanding the Major Challenges Facing UK businesses and the Economy – Evidence Submission”
Author: Huanjia Ma
Reflections on working at City-REDI – Dr Huanjia Ma
This year marks a major milestone for City-REDI as we celebrate a decade of research, impact, and collaboration. Over the past 10 years, we’ve grown from a bold idea into a leading centre for regional economic development, shaping policy and practice across the UK and beyond. To mark this anniversary, we’re launching a special blog … Continue reading “Reflections on working at City-REDI – Dr Huanjia Ma”
Digital Skills Shortage: UK Faces £27.6 Billion Loss by 2030 Due to Digital Skills Shortage
Digital Skills shortage could cost the UK economy up to £27.6 billion and more than 380,000 jobs by 2030. As the UK races towards a digital-first economy, the consequences of persistent digital skills shortages are becoming increasingly apparent. Projections indicate that without intervention, these shortages could cost the UK economy up to £27.6 billion by … Continue reading “Digital Skills Shortage: UK Faces £27.6 Billion Loss by 2030 Due to Digital Skills Shortage”
The State of Digital Skills and Shortages in the UK: Findings from City-REDI Report on Digital Skills
The UK has seen a dynamic evolution of the demand for digital skills over recent years, with a significant increase in the need for advanced, intermediate, and basic digital competencies across regions and occupations. These changes reflect the rapid digitalisation of workplaces and the growing integration of technologies like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and automation … Continue reading “The State of Digital Skills and Shortages in the UK: Findings from City-REDI Report on Digital Skills”
Fewer Firms are Created in UK Regions Outside London and the South-East
Co-authored by Huanjia Ma and Simon Collinson, they have been discussing new firm creation in regions outside London and the South-East in the context of the government’s levelling up policy plans. The UK government’s recent levelling up plans promise large investments in infrastructure, R&D, skills and education, and the relocation of public sector employment, to … Continue reading “Fewer Firms are Created in UK Regions Outside London and the South-East”
Meet Huanjia Ma, City-REDI/WMREDI’s New Research Fellow
I joined City-REDI in February after completing my PhD in Economics at the University of Birmingham. I am an applied economist and my main research fields are in regional economic development, firm behaviour and household finance. I specialise in conducting empirical analysis as well as causal inference with panel data at both micro and macro … Continue reading “Meet Huanjia Ma, City-REDI/WMREDI’s New Research Fellow”