The Wider Impacts of Cutting 91,000 Civil Service Jobs

The Government had recently proposed a cut in Civil Services jobs in an attempt to save £3.5 billion. Dr Matthew Lyons and Professor Anne Green consider the regional economic impact of the proposed cut of 91,000 civil servants and its consequences for levelling up. Introduction The civil service has been in the spotlight of UK … Continue reading “The Wider Impacts of Cutting 91,000 Civil Service Jobs”

Launch of the Birmingham Economic Review 2021

On 21 October 2021, a launch event was held for the Birmingham Economic Review 2021.  All images from the event are courtesy of Jas Sansi.  The Birmingham Economic Review (BER) is produced by the City-REDI, University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. The BER is a deep-dive into the economy of England’s … Continue reading “Launch of the Birmingham Economic Review 2021”

The Regional Economic Contribution of Student Expenditure: Implications for Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this blog, Tasos Kitsos discusses his recent publication “Universities, students and regional economies: a symbiotic relationship?” with André Carrascal-Incera and Diana Gutiérrez-Posada. This research is part of the City-REDI project “The Impact of Universities on Regional Economies“.  What is the economic contribution of students in the regions they study? What is the impact of … Continue reading “The Regional Economic Contribution of Student Expenditure: Implications for Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic”

Regional Economic Exposure of COVID-19 Measures: Shutting Down Hospitality and Recreational Activities

Dr Andre Carrascal looks at the impact the latest lockdown measures will have on sectors that have been forced to closed and how this will affect regions around the UK. People in the UK are again facing a national lockdown and, like at the end of March, some sectors are forced to close in order … Continue reading “Regional Economic Exposure of COVID-19 Measures: Shutting Down Hospitality and Recreational Activities”

Policy Briefing: The West Midlands’ Automotive Industry in the Aftermath of COVID-19: Survival of the Fittest?

In this Policy Briefing, Dr Amir Qamar and Professor Simon Collinson explore the financial position of the 50 largest (in terms of revenue) automotive firms in the West Midlands and examine how resilient they are to the economic shock caused by COVID-19.  Research by Oxford Economics identifies Birmingham to be hit exceptionally hard by the … Continue reading “Policy Briefing: The West Midlands’ Automotive Industry in the Aftermath of COVID-19: Survival of the Fittest?”

Universities and Regional Economies: Multiplier Effects and the Impact of COVID-19

In this blog, Tasos Kitsos, André Carrascal-Incera and Diana Gutiérrez-Posada discuss the potential impact of decreasing numbers of students on the UK economy. This research is part of the City-REDI project “The Impact of Universities on Regional Economies“. COVID-19:  The economic cost for Universities The COVID-19 economic crisis is expected to significantly affect the UK … Continue reading “Universities and Regional Economies: Multiplier Effects and the Impact of COVID-19”

Economic Exposure to COVID-19 (Part I): The Situation in the West Midlands Region – Closing the Borders

How can I help? That is the question I’ve been asking myself ever since I knew COVID-19 was approaching the UK. And it finally arrived, as expected, but it caught us unprepared, even though we have been observing speechless what was happening in many other countries around the corner, like Italy (where I have many … Continue reading “Economic Exposure to COVID-19 (Part I): The Situation in the West Midlands Region – Closing the Borders”

The Importance of Connectivity: If HS2 and the Midlands Rail Hub Are Delivered the Whole Region Will Benefit

In the latest City-REDI West Midlands Economic Monitor we noted how Midlands Connect has submitted a £2 billion plan for a Midlands Rail Hub The proposal would see 24 extra passenger trains for East-West connectivity, including faster connectivity times for towns and cities across the Midlands, including Nottingham and Hereford. The plan would see Moor … Continue reading “The Importance of Connectivity: If HS2 and the Midlands Rail Hub Are Delivered the Whole Region Will Benefit”