On 21st June, WMREDI held a hybrid seminar with Courtney Stephenson from Demos and David Hope from Coventry City Council discussing what we can learn from governance and institutional structures over the last ten years to support future economic growth. The last ten years have seen considerable change in tiers of local and regional governance … Continue reading “The Future of Devolution, Accountability and Local Democracy”
Tag: Devolution
West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 12th May 2023
Latest results suggest business conditions continue to remain challenging, but estimates show small signs of positive improvement for some measures; examples include a stable proportion of businesses reporting they were able to get materials, goods and services from within the UK, and more businesses reported having fewer concerns for their business. Both the Institute of Chartered … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 12th May 2023”
How England’s Devolution Catch-22 Stands in the Way of Balanced Growth
Charlotte Hoole, Jack Newman and Simon Collinson discuss their recent paper that shows a lack of decentralisation is limiting the capacity and capability of local institutions to devise and implement growth and development strategies important for locally-driven ‘levelling-up’ in England. In recent years, the UK has experienced increased economic and social inequalities. Of particular concern … Continue reading “How England’s Devolution Catch-22 Stands in the Way of Balanced Growth”
West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 3 March 2023
This week the Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission announced a new agreement – the Windsor Framework – to change the way the Northern Ireland Protocol operates, including by removing checks on goods from Great Britain remaining in Northern Ireland. Inflation in the Euro area is decelerating. Concerns about the impacts of … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 3 March 2023”
Labour’s Plan to Put “The Right Powers in the Right Places”
In December 2022, the Labour Party published a new report which promised to decentralise political power in the UK by putting “the right powers in the right places”. Dr Charlotte Hoole and Dr Matt Lyons evaluate how Labour’s proposals differ from the current system and what it could mean for the West Midlands. In December … Continue reading “Labour’s Plan to Put “The Right Powers in the Right Places””
The Morbid Symptoms of Low-Growth and Low-Productivity: Is Devolution the Key to Levelling-Up?
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. Rebecca Riley and Ben Brittain discuss the need for a radical change in … Continue reading “The Morbid Symptoms of Low-Growth and Low-Productivity: Is Devolution the Key to Levelling-Up?”
The Case for a Just Devolution
Liam O’Farrell discusses the idea of ‘Just Devolution’, whereby devolution is driven not by demands to stimulate growth but to create a more just society. Find out more about the Just City Project. Devolution is currently front and centre in British politics. There have been comparisons of the relative performance of the devolved governments in … Continue reading “The Case for a Just Devolution”
Brexit and the West Midlands: What Has Happened in the Last Five Years?
On 29th March 2017, article 50 was triggered and the UK began the process of leaving the EU. To mark the day, Hannes Read looks at the impact Brexit has had on the West Midlands. The 29th March 2022 marks five years to the day since Article 50 was formally triggered; beginning the process for … Continue reading “Brexit and the West Midlands: What Has Happened in the Last Five Years?”
Devolution and Levelling Up: Boon or Bane for the Region?
Charlotte Hoole discusses the levelling up agenda, what it means for devolution, and what opportunities it presents for the West Midlands. This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by City-REDI, University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It … Continue reading “Devolution and Levelling Up: Boon or Bane for the Region?”
Four propositions for the Much-Anticipated Levelling Up White Paper
Will Rossiter, Anne Green and Rebecca Riley discuss new research that identifies a number of challenges for the upcoming Levelling Up White Paper. Recent research from City-REDI/ WMREDI at the University of Birmingham and Nottingham Business School at Nottingham Trent University on the geography and functioning of places and the institutions, practice and policies associated … Continue reading “Four propositions for the Much-Anticipated Levelling Up White Paper”