The Complexity of Local Government in England: The West Midlands’ Rubik’s Cube

In our latest blog, Dr Charlotte Hoole unpicks the complex world of the local government systems and explains how the different tiers and authorities for each region inter-relate. Back in 2006, the then head of communications at the New Local Government Network was quoted in the Guardian as saying “the complexity of local government is … Continue reading “The Complexity of Local Government in England: The West Midlands’ Rubik’s Cube”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 28th August 2020

WM REDI has been tasked with providing an up to date monitor of the current COVID-19 economic impacts, on a weekly basis. These reports will help regional partners to shape responses and interventions to boost the region’s resilience so that it can thrive going forward. Each week the focus of the report relates to research … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 28th August 2020”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 14th August 2020

WM REDI has been tasked with providing an up to date monitor of the current COVID-19 economic impacts, on a weekly basis. These reports will help regional partners to shape responses and interventions to boost the region’s resilience so that it can thrive going forward. Each week the focus of the report relates to research … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 14th August 2020”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 7th August 2020

WM REDI has been tasked with providing an up to date monitor of the current COVID-19 economic impacts, on a weekly basis. These reports will help regional partners to shape responses and interventions to boost the region’s resilience so that it can thrive going forward. Each week the focus of the report relates to research … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 7th August 2020”

Geographical and Social Mobility

Professor Anne Green investigates social mobility, both within classes and geographically reviewing how factors such as education, housing, internal migration, and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds makes a difference to people’s opportunities. Introduction On 23rd July the Social Mobility Commission published an important report entitled ‘Moving Out to Move On’ investigating the link between internal migration … Continue reading “Geographical and Social Mobility”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 31st July 2020

WM REDI has been tasked with providing an up to date monitor of the current COVID-19 economic impacts, on a weekly basis. These reports will help regional partners to shape responses and interventions to boost the region’s resilience so that it can thrive going forward. Each week the focus of the report relates to research … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 31st July 2020”

COVID-19 and Job Matching

In this blog, Professor Anne Green investigates the short and long-term impacts of Matching Interventions, one of the key policies in tackling the current labour market crisis. As in previous recessions, Covid-19 brings a massive economic shock across the country but with locally specific impacts. What is different about the current recession is that the … Continue reading “COVID-19 and Job Matching”

Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap

Dr Chloe Billing explores the Research and Development opportunities available to the West Midlands, the different funding strands for these and how the region can make the most of them. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a time of uncertainty and posed significant challenges to research and innovation in the UK. This was discussed in my … Continue reading “Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap”

A Review of the Impacts of the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic

Rebecca Riley looks at back at the Spanish Flu of 1918, who the virus affected, and what the short and long term impacts were for different countries. The 1918 ‘Spanish’ flu, although it was a different virus to COVID-19, had similar wide-ranging pandemic effects. Transport and travel were far less common, the global population and … Continue reading “A Review of the Impacts of the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic”

Rental Market Liquidity in Birmingham and Coventry: What Will Happen in the Next Few Months?

In this blog, Dr Okan Yilmaz, Professor Sasha Talavera and Dr Joy Jia examine the impact student housing demand has on rental markets in Birmingham and Coventry and how COVID-19 might change this.  As with many other markets, the real estate market follows predictable seasonal patterns every year. It heats up during hot periods and winds … Continue reading “Rental Market Liquidity in Birmingham and Coventry: What Will Happen in the Next Few Months?”