Universities and Levelling Up Policy Forum – Setting the Scene

This blog, by Des McNulty, Mike Boxall, Chris Millward and John Goddard, is the first outcome of a dialogue involving senior participants from universities, government and a variety of civic organisations to (i) discuss the role Universities might play in the implementation of the levelling up agenda and (ii) scope out the White Paper’s implications … Continue reading “Universities and Levelling Up Policy Forum – Setting the Scene”

City-REDI / WMREDI Round Up – April 2022

Events – presenting work / speaking engagements On 30th March, George Bramley and Dr Abigail Taylor presented on how incubators can act as engines for growth at a roundtable organised by the West Midlands Health Technologies Cluster. Dr Sara Hassan was hosted in a Podcast by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung to speak about Sustainable Urban Transport Justice and … Continue reading “City-REDI / WMREDI Round Up – April 2022”

City-REDI / WMREDI Round Up- March 2022

Events – Presenting work / Speaking engagements On 24th February, Matt Lyons presented at an LGA Roundtable – the role of Combined Authorities in supporting the creative industries – levelling up and economic development session. On 3rd March, Dr Abigail Taylor took part in an event discussing the findings from her recent report with CIPFA … Continue reading “City-REDI / WMREDI Round Up- March 2022”

Fewer Firms are Created in UK Regions Outside London and the South-East

Co-authored by Huanjia Ma and Simon Collinson, they have been discussing new firm creation in regions outside London and the South-East in the context of the government’s levelling up policy plans. The UK government’s recent levelling up plans promise large investments in infrastructure, R&D, skills and education, and the relocation of public sector employment, to … Continue reading “Fewer Firms are Created in UK Regions Outside London and the South-East”

Investing in Infrastructure: Best Practice From Bilbao to New South Wales

Abigail Taylor, Anne Green and Gina Coe discuss how governments around the globe have focused on infrastructure investment in attempt to address regional inequalities.  Governments have turned to infrastructure development to stimulate economic growth. From the UK’s Plan for Growth and the European Green Deal to the US’s Build Back Better Plan, infrastructure has been … Continue reading “Investing in Infrastructure: Best Practice From Bilbao to New South Wales”

West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 4 March 2022

This week, the news has been dominated by developments in Ukraine, and this has affected the data and research published on general economic conditions. Many forecasters and now reviewing their forecasts given the unfolding situation across Europe, and its wider impacts on the global economy. Once again this has flagged how interrelated countries are and … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 4 March 2022”

City-REDI / WMREDI Round Up – February 2022

Events – presenting work / speaking engagements John Goddard participated in the first meeting of the Advisory Group for the European Programme on Higher Education and (regional) Smart Specialisation on 11th February. On 22nd February he joined Andrés Rodriguez Pose from LSE as a keynote speaker at the launch of the OECD programme on the … Continue reading “City-REDI / WMREDI Round Up – February 2022”

West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 18 February 2022

This week commentary has focused on the Levelling Up White Paper, and the WMCA forecast provider Oxford Economics’ latest summary looks at the impact on UK cities and regions. Their assessment is: “The Levelling Up White Paper contains nothing to cause us to revise our forecasts for the UK’s various nations and regions, let alone … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 18 February 2022”

Other Countries Have Made Progress in Levelling Up – Here’s How the UK’s Plan Compares

Dr Abigail Taylor looks at how the UK’s approach to levelling up compares with regions that have been successful in reducing inequalities. She draws on recent research she contributed to led by Anne Green, Professor of Regional Economic Development, City-REDI and Jeffrey Matsu, Chief Economist at CIPFA. Liam O’Farrell, Hannes Read, Gina Coe, Ben Brittain, and … Continue reading “Other Countries Have Made Progress in Levelling Up – Here’s How the UK’s Plan Compares”

Levelling Up: Four Problems With Boris Johnson’s Flagship Project

Dr Jack Newman, Professor Nigel Driffield, Professor Nigel Gilbert and Professor Simon Collinson discuss some of the issues with the new Levelling Up White Paper.   The UK government has revealed its plan to level up the country – a white paper setting out policies to tackle inequality between places. The plan comes at a defining moment. It’s … Continue reading “Levelling Up: Four Problems With Boris Johnson’s Flagship Project”