Housing and Local Industrial Strategy: Reflections on the 100th Anniversary of the Addison Act

On 11 November 1918, the war to end all wars, World War 1, ended with the signing of the armistice. The next day, David Lloyd George, then UK prime minister, called a general election promising that the government would provide “habitations fit for the heroes who have won the war”. This became known as the … Continue reading “Housing and Local Industrial Strategy: Reflections on the 100th Anniversary of the Addison Act”

West Midlands Economic Monitor: June 2019

June’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 looks at hydrogen trains, the UK 2070 Commission, homelessness and fuel poverty, modular homes, and as always features analysis of the latest data about the region’s economic performance. … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Monitor: June 2019”

West Midlands Economic Monitor: May 2019

May’s edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available for download. This month’s installment looks at the debate around HS2, how much money you need to earn to be happy, inequality in the region, ongoing protests against LGBT-inclusive education, a range of regeneration projects planned for Birmingham, and the latest statistics around employment, … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Monitor: May 2019”

The March edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available

This month’s edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available for download. We look at the changes in regional productivity, employment, business activity and house prices in the region, as well as projects that have been announced in rail, 5G internet, electric cars and adult education in the West Midlands. You can get … Continue reading “The March edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available”

Homelessness – the human cost of neoliberal austerity

What is the scale of the homelessness problem in the UK? Britain is in the midst of a homelessness crisis, with 320,000 citizens – that is, 1 in every 200 people – without a fixed place to sleep [i]. The number of people in this condition is rapidly growing, having more than doubled since the … Continue reading “Homelessness – the human cost of neoliberal austerity”

City-REDI at the Tallinn Workshop on “Social Trends, Policy Initiatives and Planning Measures in Large Housing Estates”

My colleague Dr Sara Hassan and I recently attended the Tallinn workshop on housing to present two of the projects City-REDI is currently working on and hear about other interesting research going on in the field of urban studies and planning policy. It was a great experience that gave us both the opportunity to think … Continue reading “City-REDI at the Tallinn Workshop on “Social Trends, Policy Initiatives and Planning Measures in Large Housing Estates””

#BER18 – Launch of the Birmingham Economic Review 2018

Businesspeople, policymakers and academics from Birmingham and the rest of the West Midlands gathered last Friday for the launch of the Birmingham Economic Review 2018. Delegates were posting their thoughts about the report – as well as the new Edgbaston Park Hotel which hosted the event – using the hashtag #BER18 on Twitter. The report … Continue reading “#BER18 – Launch of the Birmingham Economic Review 2018”

Mind the Gap! Qualification Shortages in the West Midlands

Given that the negotiations leading to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal are far from reaching a final consensus, the potential implications of any Brexit deal for bilateral skilled migration between the UK and the EU have attracted a great deal of attention by academics. Recent research has shown that almost one million EU citizens who work … Continue reading “Mind the Gap! Qualification Shortages in the West Midlands”