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”

Measuring the Distance to the Sustainable Development Goals in the UK Regions: How Is the West Midlands Performing?

In this blog, Professor Raquel Ortega-Argilés discusses the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) introduced by the United Nations in their 2030 Agenda. How the UK and the West Midlands is performing in comparison to other regions, and what impact COVID-19 will have on meeting these goals.  In September 2015, the General Assembly of the United … Continue reading “Measuring the Distance to the Sustainable Development Goals in the UK Regions: How Is the West Midlands Performing?”

Inclusive Growth? The Unequal Contribution of Globalisation and Automation to Local Jobs

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates is a bi-annual publication which will get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. WM REDI staff and guest contributors will discuss various topics, with this first publication focusing on how inclusive growth can be a tool to tackle regional imbalances across the UK. In this article, Dr Raquel Ortega-Argiles … Continue reading “Inclusive Growth? The Unequal Contribution of Globalisation and Automation to Local Jobs”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 17th 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 is based on … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 17th July 2020”

Economic Recovery Post COVID-19: The MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (REAP)

Dr Chloe Billing discusses the goals and objectives of MIT’s Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme, the aims of its pilot programme in the UK and what the MIT REAP West Midlands is doing to help the region recover from COVID-19.   In March 2020, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) launched a pilot in the UK … Continue reading “Economic Recovery Post COVID-19: The MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (REAP)”

How Can We Mitigate the Impact of the COVID-19 Unemployment Crisis Through Lifelong Learning?

A new report by City-REDI and the Industrial Strategy Council presents evidence on some of the skills challenges facing the UK and how they might be addressed. Dr Abigail Taylor considers the key points in the report that are relevant to the West Midlands as it seeks to plan its recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. … Continue reading “How Can We Mitigate the Impact of the COVID-19 Unemployment Crisis Through Lifelong Learning?”

Capitalising on the Growing Army of Volunteers in the West Midlands During COVID-19

In this Blog, George Bramley discusses how volunteering can help people find, or get back into, long term employment. Volunteering as a response to COVID-19 There has been significant media coverage on the number of NHS Volunteer respondents recruited in response to COVID-19 before recruitment was suspended at 750,000 volunteers nationally so that applications could … Continue reading “Capitalising on the Growing Army of Volunteers in the West Midlands During COVID-19”

The Role of Short-Time Working Schemes in Mitigating the Impact of Financial Crises: Learning From France and Germany

Current approaches France and Germany have introduced large financial rescue packages to seek to lessen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their economies. Bruno Le Maire, the French Finance Minister, has announced an aid package to help businesses and employees worth over 300 billion Euros. The German Federal and state governments have announced measures … Continue reading “The Role of Short-Time Working Schemes in Mitigating the Impact of Financial Crises: Learning From France and Germany”

Identifying Exposure: What Do the IFS Estimates on the Coronavirus Sector Shutdown Mean for the West Midlands?

On April 6th 2020 the Institute for Fiscal Studies published a briefing note about which workers are most exposed to the COVID-19 lockdown. In this blog, Tasos Kitsos looks at the relevant figures for a range of sub-national areas focussing on West Midlands Combined Authority and constituent LEPs and Local Authorities. The sectors directly affected … Continue reading “Identifying Exposure: What Do the IFS Estimates on the Coronavirus Sector Shutdown Mean for the West Midlands?”

West Midlands Economic Monitor: March 2020

March’s edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available for you to keep up to date with recent developments in the region. This month’s monitor shows: PMI softened in February, but still depicted growth, and the claimant count has increased by over 20,000 people since last year. The global COVID-19 pandemic is beginning … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Monitor: March 2020”