Devolution in the UK: A Look at Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

  Previous blogs in this devolution series have considered the political and economic benefits of devolving decision-making power and looked at the situation in England, with the new combined authorities and the office of the Mayor of London. The countries of the Celtic fringe of the UK – namely Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – also … Continue reading “Devolution in the UK: A Look at Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland”

What is the Extent of Devolution in England?

Across the UK there is a range of devolution models in operation. This blog will consider the form that devolution takes among the new combined authorities in England and the Greater London Authority in the capital. It is part of a series of blog looking at devolution and follows on from a previous blog asking … Continue reading “What is the Extent of Devolution in England?”

What Is the Point of Devolution?

It is not uncommon to hear that the UK is the most centralised country in the developed world. London utterly dominates the rest of the country to an extent that is quite remarkable. From politics to business, media to culture, the wealth and power of the UK is almost entirely within London’s orbit. Indeed, if … Continue reading “What Is the Point of Devolution?”

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”

What is Gross Value Added (GVA)?

Welcome to part one in our new series “What is…?” where we explain the language, terms and ideas used in our day-to-day work.  Other blogs from the series include: What is Transport Resilience? What is Smart Specialisation? What are Industrial Clusters and Economies of Agglomeration? Definition and Description Gross value added (GVA) measures the contribution … Continue reading “What is Gross Value Added (GVA)?”

The West Midlands Economic Monitor – April 2019

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 business openings, transport changes, equality and diversity and major new housing developments. Get the April edition of the monitor by clicking … Continue reading “The West Midlands Economic Monitor – April 2019”

Is High Speed Two going to change Britain? High-speed rail in an international perspective

While recent media headlines might be devoted exclusively to Brexit, there are a raft of other major government projects – from Universal Credit to the MoD’s new aircraft carriers – that also attract a lot of column space. One of these is undoubtedly High Speed Two. The government says this is a once-in-a-generation chance to … Continue reading “Is High Speed Two going to change Britain? High-speed rail in an international perspective”

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”

Today is World Day of Social Justice. Let’s talk about what that means

 The 20th of February has been designated by the United Nations as World Day of Social Justice. This year’s theme is “If you want peace and development, work for social justice”, with a specific focus on the 2 billion people worldwide living in fragile states afflicted by conflicts and how the creation of better quality … Continue reading “Today is World Day of Social Justice. Let’s talk about what that means”