Levelling Up Inter-Regional and Inter-Urban Inequality in the UK and the Geography of Discontent: A Historical and International Perspective

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates aims to get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. In this edition, WMREDI staff look at the government’s flagship policy – Levelling Up. We look at the challenge of implementing, understanding and measuring Levelling Up. Professor Raquel Ortega-Argiles discusses regional imbalances in the UK, the impact of Brexit … Continue reading “Levelling Up Inter-Regional and Inter-Urban Inequality in the UK and the Geography of Discontent: A Historical and International Perspective”

COVID-19 Recovery: Birmingham Cannot Miss the Opportunity for a Restart

Tasos Kitsos and Raquel Ortega-Argiles discuss some of the key factors that need to be overcome in Birmingham to continue its economic recovery in the post-COVID era.  This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by the University of Birmingham’s City-REDI and … Continue reading “COVID-19 Recovery: Birmingham Cannot Miss the Opportunity for a Restart”

How Can a Space Cluster Help the West Midlands to Diversify?

Professor Raquel Ortega-Argiles explains how the development of a space cluster in the West Midlands could allow the region to develop new varieties of technologies by following diversified specialisation processes.  This blog has been produced to provide insight into a City-REDI / WMREDI project looking at the development of a Space Cluster in the West … Continue reading “How Can a Space Cluster Help the West Midlands to Diversify?”

The Principles of Smart Specialisation and Space Cluster Development

Professor Raquel Ortega-Argiles outlines the principles of Smart Specialisation and Cluster Development and how it can work within the context of developing a West Midlands Space Cluster. This blog has been produced to provide insight into a City-REDI / WMREDI project looking at the development of a Space Cluster in the West Midlands. The project … Continue reading “The Principles of Smart Specialisation and Space Cluster Development”

Brexit Deal: What Is New for the Regions?

After eight months of negotiations, the UK and EU agreed on a new Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Professor Raquel Ortega-Argiles examines what the Brexit deal means for the UK and its regions.    This blog was first posted on the Birmingham Brief site.  On 24 December 2020, after eight months of negotiations, the UK and … Continue reading “Brexit Deal: What Is New for the Regions?”

Brexit and Losses of UK Regional Competitiveness: What Does this Mean for the West Midlands, ‘Levelling Up’ and a UK-EU Trade Deal?

A UK in a Changing Europe research team led by Professor Raquel Ortega-Argilés from City-REDI, University of Birmingham, and also involving the University of Sheffield, University of Groningen, Erasmus University and Dutch Environmental Assessment Agency, has recently published new research which extends our understanding of the likely consequences of Brexit for UK and EU regions. … Continue reading “Brexit and Losses of UK Regional Competitiveness: What Does this Mean for the West Midlands, ‘Levelling Up’ and a UK-EU Trade Deal?”

Building Resilience in Birmingham: Future Growth and Opportunities

In this blog, Professor Raquel Ortega-Argiles discusses the importance of building economic resilience in places, what Birmingham strengths as a City-Region are, and what areas it needs to develop to become more resilient.  This blog post has been produced to provide insight into the findings of the Birmingham Economic Review. The Birmingham Economic Review 2020 is … Continue reading “Building Resilience in Birmingham: Future Growth and Opportunities”

Regions in a Time of Pandemic

Professor Raquel Ortega Argiles, writing for WM REDI looks at how the pandemic and lockdowns have disproportionately affected more deprived areas, both in terms of health and finance, as well as other factors including the environment and working conditions. This blog is based on the last editorial of Regional Studies “Regions in a time of … Continue reading “Regions in a Time of Pandemic”

Measuring the Distance to the Sustainable Development Goals in the UK Regions: How Is the West Midlands Performing?

In this blog, Professor Raquel Ortega-Argilés discusses the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) introduced by the United Nations in their 2030 Agenda. How the UK and the West Midlands is performing in comparison to other regions, and what impact COVID-19 will have on meeting these goals.  In September 2015, the General Assembly of the United … Continue reading “Measuring the Distance to the Sustainable Development Goals in the UK Regions: How Is the West Midlands Performing?”

Inclusive Growth? The Unequal Contribution of Globalisation and Automation to Local Jobs

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates is a bi-annual publication which will get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. WM REDI staff and guest contributors will discuss various topics, with this first publication focusing on how inclusive growth can be a tool to tackle regional imbalances across the UK. In this article, Dr Raquel Ortega-Argiles … Continue reading “Inclusive Growth? The Unequal Contribution of Globalisation and Automation to Local Jobs”