Promoting the work of the City Region Economic and Development Institute (City REDI)
A slow Christmas for retailers hints at the continuing issues with sluggish growth seen globally, with forecasts struggling to revise upwards. A continuing bumpy ride for China is having global ramifications. Food prices are rising, as are those goods most affected by Brexit. Future prospects for the West Midlands seem mixed. Growth outlook The World … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 26 January 2024”
As 2023 draws to a close, the challenges of inflation (although falling) and low growth remain. The cost of living, the NHS and the economy are key concerns for the general public. However, businesses in the West Midlands are still optimistic as indicated by the Future Business Activity Index. Global, national and regional outlook The … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 15 December 2023”
The latest edition of REDI-Updates is out now – providing expert data insights and clear policy guidance. In this edition, the WMREDI team investigates what factors are contributing to the cost-of-living crisis and the impact it is having on households, businesses, public services and the third sector. We also look at how the crisis in … Continue reading “REDI-Updates: How Does the Cost-Of-Living Crisis Impact People’s Health and Well-Being?”
Anne Green examines rates of economic inactivity in the West Midlands. Who is inactive and why? This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review 2023. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an in-depth exploration of the economy of England’s … Continue reading “Economic Inactivity in the West Midlands”
On 26th October 2023, a launch event was held for the Birmingham Economic Review. Chloe Billing provides a summary of some of the key points to come out of the event. The Birmingham Economic Review (BER) is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is … Continue reading “The Launch of the Birmingham Economic Review 2023”
Events – presenting work / speaking engagements 4 October – Matt Lyons attended the 14th Annual Geoff Hewings Workshop and presented on ‘Can R&D policy level up the UK? A multi-regional input-output approach’. 18 – 20 October, Fumi Kitagawa spoke at the Societal Impact of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts conference (SSHA) Conference, Cardiff University, … Continue reading “City-REDI/WMREDI Round Up – October 2023”
Local and Central Government Anne Green and Abigail Taylor presented work on ‘Place-based employment support: learning from Connecting Communities in the West Midlands’ in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Learning and Development series on 12th September 2023. City-REDI and WMREDI researchers participated in the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) Economic Symposium at the Library of … Continue reading “City-REDI/WMREDI Round Up – September 2023”
Anne Green, David Waite and Richard Crisp discusses their new paper which compares the five leading agendas that have been positioned as alternative and progressive policy responses to urban economic change. Decades of traditional growth-oriented economic policies have failed to stem widening social inequalities and rising environmental challenges. This has triggered growing interest amongst policymakers … Continue reading “Alternative Approaches to Local Economic Development: Perspectives from the West Midlands”
George Bramley summarises the main findings of a new WMREDI report ‘Early Assessment of the West Midlands Innovation Programme’ whilst Dr Jamie Elliot reflects on how the findings have contributed to shaping provision going forward. Programmes to support innovation have tended to be designed centrally focusing on specific aspects of the research, development, and innovation … Continue reading “The West Midlands as a Regional Test bed for Innovation Policy and Support”
This month there is another natural disaster; rescue efforts are ongoing after a powerful earthquake struck central Morocco on Friday night just after 11pm. The death toll has soared to more than 2,000, with a similar number of injured. Inflation continues to be an issue globally post-pandemic. Heatwaves, fires and floods are hitting key supply … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 13 September 2023”
