In a world where living standards have dramatically risen in the developed nations, technology and science are often credited with this outcome. Advancements in technology have created better farming techniques and increased food production. Medical science has eliminated disease and prolonged life through organ transplants, keyhole surgery and pacemakers. So how has capitalism impacted on … Continue reading “Capitalism and Its Impact on Global Living Standards”
UK Regional Productivity Variations and What Might be Driving These
Over the past decade, the gap between the UK’s productivity performance and other OECD countries has been widening. This is due to unusually slow growth rates in UK productivity since 2010 in spite of rising employment, leading to what has been termed the UK’s ‘productivity puzzle’. Within the UK, there are also vast variations in … Continue reading “UK Regional Productivity Variations and What Might be Driving These”
#Budget2020: Did the West Midlands Win Anything?
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has now delivered his much-anticipated budget. It is the first UK budget since 2018 and has been given ahead of a Bank of England Rate interest rate cut from 0.75% to 0.25%. But, what will it mean for the regions of the UK, and more importantly what will it mean for … Continue reading “#Budget2020: Did the West Midlands Win Anything?”
When Weak Ties are Strong – Neighbour Analysis of Ethnic Enclaves
Presenter: Ozge Oner, Lecturer in Spatial Economics and Real Estate, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge On the 4th March 2020, Ozge Oner presented her research work with fellow academics Professor Johan Klaesson, Research Institute of Industrial Economics and Dr Dieter Pennerstofer, Kepler University Linz. Below is an abstract and also a video recording … Continue reading “When Weak Ties are Strong – Neighbour Analysis of Ethnic Enclaves”
A First Look at Connections Between Creative Industry Presence and the Wider Urban Economy
Creative industries have long been a focus of urban researchers and policymakers. There is a good reason for this: creative industries tend to cluster heavily in cities. In the UK, for example, 53% of creative industries jobs and 44% of firms are found in just five cities. There is a large academic literature describing these … Continue reading “A First Look at Connections Between Creative Industry Presence and the Wider Urban Economy”
City-REDI Weekly Update – 5th March 2020
Welcome to your weekly update. If you have any feedback please let us know. Blogs Regional Productivity Differences, Skills and Inclusive Growth: Survey Findings What do employers in the West Midlands think productivity is? What acts to constrain innovation in their businesses, do they struggle to find employees with the right skills and are their … Continue reading “City-REDI Weekly Update – 5th March 2020”
Political Disenchantment and the Urban-Rural Divide: An Investigation of Social and Political Attitudes Across 30 European Countries
Presenter: Davide Luca, Research Associate, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge. On the 12 February 2020, Davide Luca presented his research work with Mike Kenny as part of the City-REDI Seminar Series. Below is an abstract and also a video recording of the seminar with slide and audio. Abstract: Despite growing concerns about … Continue reading “Political Disenchantment and the Urban-Rural Divide: An Investigation of Social and Political Attitudes Across 30 European Countries”
Regional Productivity Differences, Skills and Inclusive Growth: Survey Findings
The UK lags behind most advanced economies in terms of the productivity of its firms. There are also significant inter-regional differences in productivity across the UK, which are an important component of overall poor performance. The UK is also one of the most unequal countries, compared to other industrialised competitors, in terms of regional differences … Continue reading “Regional Productivity Differences, Skills and Inclusive Growth: Survey Findings”
Birmingham Has yet to Embrace Tolkien – Why?
Tolkien and his works are inextricably linked to Birmingham, and hints of Middle-earth can be found across the region. He grew up in Kings Heath, a suburb of the city, and spent a considerable amount of time in Hall Green, home to Moseley Bog, believed to be the inspiration for Fangorn Forest. The city captured … Continue reading “Birmingham Has yet to Embrace Tolkien – Why?”
City-REDI Weekly Update – 27th February 2020
Welcome to your weekly update. If you have any feedback please let us know. Blogs What Do We Know About the Current Economic Conditions and What Does the Latest Data Indicate for the West Midlands’ Economy? In this blog, Rebecca Riley accesses the economic performance of the West Midlands, looking at past, current and future … Continue reading “City-REDI Weekly Update – 27th February 2020”