The Rise in Economic Inactivity Due to Long-Term Health Issues

Dr Justin Varney, Director of Public Health, Birmingham City Council discusses how retention of staff is key to the health and wealth of Birmingham and the wider region, as well as business.  This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review, published in September 2023.  The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University … Continue reading “The Rise in Economic Inactivity Due to Long-Term Health Issues”

The Impact of the Cost of Living Crisis and The Issue of Deprivation in Birmingham

Simone Connolly, CEO, FareShare Midlands discusses the impact of the cost of living crisis in Birmingham, with large increases in the numbers of people turning to them for help.  This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review, published in September 2023.  The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and … Continue reading “The Impact of the Cost of Living Crisis and The Issue of Deprivation in Birmingham”

Birmingham and the Index of Multiple Deprivation

In the latest article from the Birmingham Economic Review, Magda Cepeda Zorrilla discusses how the Index of Multiple Deprivation shows that more than 60% of Birmingham’s population lives in the lowest levels of deprivation. This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham … Continue reading “Birmingham and the Index of Multiple Deprivation”

The Role of Universities in Birmingham’s Economy and Communities

Sara Hassan and Hannes Read discuss how universities in Birmingham can act as anchors and civic institutions for the benefit of the city-region.  This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an in-depth … Continue reading “The Role of Universities in Birmingham’s Economy and Communities”

Birmingham Economic Review 2023: A Year of Resilience

Alice Pugh and Emily Stubbs discuss this year’s Birmingham Economic Review (BER) produced in partnership between City REDI/ WMREDI and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the Greater Birmingham city region economy. The review highlights a distinct period of uncertainty that the city-region is experiencing, with ongoing high inflation, … Continue reading “Birmingham Economic Review 2023: A Year of Resilience”

London Wins Again – The Debacle of the UK’s High-speed Rail ‘strategy’ 

Donald Houston and Rebecca Riley discuss the scrapping of HS2 and the significant economic impact on the North of the UK. This blog was originally written for the Birmingham Business School Blog. A branding failure HS2 has always suffered from a branding failure. HS2 sounds rather anodyne and the ‘2’ reminds those north of London … Continue reading “London Wins Again – The Debacle of the UK’s High-speed Rail ‘strategy’ ”

West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 13 September 2023

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”

West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 9th June 2023

Despite some bright spots of recovery in the nation and West Midlands, the forecast remains turbulent for the UK economy. Perhaps the biggest news is inflation: despite falls in inflation over the period since the previous monitor, the base rate is now at 4.5% and the hopes of easing interest rates in the medium term … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 9th June 2023”

The Green Economy in Birmingham and the West Midlands

Professor Martin Freer discusses what the region needs to do to meet net zero targets. This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2022.  The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by the University of Birmingham’s City-REDI and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an in-depth exploration of … Continue reading “The Green Economy in Birmingham and the West Midlands”

What Characteristics Influence the Retention/Migration Decisions of Birmingham Graduates?

Anne Green and Kostas Kollydas provide a breakdown of the type of graduates that remain in the region after they complete their degrees. The skills composition of the labour force plays a vital role in a region’s productivity, economic growth and innovation capabilities. In this context, creating the conditions for retaining highly skilled university graduates … Continue reading “What Characteristics Influence the Retention/Migration Decisions of Birmingham Graduates?”