In September 2025, The Economist updated the Carrie Bradshaw Index, a playful yet insightful measure of housing affordability for solo renters across 100 U.S. cities. Named after the iconic character from Sex and the City, the index compares median incomes to the cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment, essentially asking: where can you afford to … Continue reading “Can West Midlanders Afford to Live Solo? A Local Take on the Carrie Bradshaw Index”
Tag: Urban planning
The 15-Minute City: Good Urban Planning or an Attack on Personal Freedoms?
At the recent Conservative Party Conference, the 15-minute city was highlighted as an attack on personal freedom. In this blog, Magda Cepeda-Zorrilla looks at what a 15-minute city is, gives examples of where it’s been implemented and whether it might restrict people’s freedom. The Department for Transport (DfT) recently released the Plan for Drivers document, … Continue reading “The 15-Minute City: Good Urban Planning or an Attack on Personal Freedoms?”
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””
What is a “Just City”? A research trip to Zürich
In 2014, the number of people across the globe living in urban areas surpassed those living in the countryside for the first time. Cities are where more highly-skilled and better-paid jobs tend to be clustered. They have a wider range of cultural attractions, restaurants, educational and shopping opportunities than rural places. These features encourage in-migration … Continue reading “What is a “Just City”? A research trip to Zürich”
City-REDI Spring Seminar Series
City-REDI is delighted to invite you to our seminar series covering economics, economic geography, regional science, economic development, critical urbanism and urban policymaking. The seminars are open to all including PhDs, Masters students and non-academics. Do join us, and feel free to forward to others who might be interested. The seminar programme can be found below … Continue reading “City-REDI Spring Seminar Series”