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How to kickstart productivity growth in the UK’s towns and cities?

By Marianne Sensier, Kate Penney and Michael Francis Filed Under: Devo, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth, Levelling up, UK economy, Urban Posted: May 9, 2025

The UK’s urban centres are key to driving up economic and productivity growth. However, many post-industrial towns and cities are underperforming. In this article, Dr Marianne Sensier, Dr Kate Penney and Michael Francis from The Productivity Institute, describe their findings from a place-based study of Rochdale and explain what the government and metro mayors can […]

Tagged With: advanced materials, AMBS, Business Energy & Industry, devolution, economy, GMCA, Greater Manchester, inclusive growth, inequalities, innovation, Levelling Up, local government, productivity, transport

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Greater Manchester economy: response to crises

By Marianne Sensier Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Devo, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth Posted: March 28, 2022

The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on the inequalities in our society. Those in comfortable jobs have largely been able to work remotely from home. Those in precarious sectors and occupations have lost the most, particularly in deprived communities. The tighter restrictions imposed on Greater Manchester since the easing of the first lockdown in […]

Tagged With: AMBS, COVID-19, devolution, economy, Greater Manchester, inclusive growth, labour market, Levelling Up, local government

A man turns wooden number blocks to reveal the phrase '2021 BUDGET' against a black background

The Levelling-up Budget?

By Marianne Sensier Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Budget, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth, News Posted: March 4, 2021

The Conservative Government’s 2019 general election manifesto included a promise to ‘listen to the people who have felt left behind’. There was also a commitment in the Budget 2020 to drive economic growth sustainably and improve living standards by boosting productivity and levelling up skills across the UK, along with future commitments to increase investment […]

Tagged With: AMBS, british politics, Business Energy & Industry, communities, economy, employment, inclusive growth, inequalities, inequality, infrastructure, labour market, Levelling Up, productivity, science & engineering, transport, Treasury, work & pensions

How resilient were UK regions to the 2008 financial crisis? Recovery policies for COVID-19 crisis

Elvira Uyarra By Marianne Sensier, Fiona Devine and Elvira Uyarra Filed Under: Growth and Inclusion Posted: July 14, 2020

Dr Marianne Sensier, Professor Fiona Devine and Dr Elvira Uyarra have conducted research comparing the economic resilience of UK sub-regions in recovery from the 2008 financial crisis. In this blog, they map the resilience across the UK in recovery from the financial crisis and suggest policies for increasing resilience for recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. […]

Tagged With: AMBS, Business Energy & Industry, carbon reduction, COVID-19, devolution, economy, employment, GM COVID-19 recovery, Greater Manchester, inclusive growth, inequalities, inequality, infrastructure, labour market, local government, Pandemic, productivity, sustainability, Treasury

Levelling up regional resilience

Elvira Uyarra By Marianne Sensier and Elvira Uyarra Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Growth and Inclusion Posted: May 12, 2020

Dr Marianne Sensier and Dr Elvira Uyarra have conducted research comparing the economic resilience, community wellbeing, sustainability and governance of Greater Manchester and Preston in recovery from the 2008 financial crisis. The financial crisis provided a window of opportunity for some places to develop new arrangements to adapt and diversify regional economies. In this blog, […]

Tagged With: AMBS, COVID-19, devolution, financial crisis, GM COVID-19 recovery, Greater Manchester, inclusive growth, Levelling Up, local government, MIOIR, Pandemic, place-based policy, productivity, Social Justice, Treasury

Can we ‘level up’ transport infrastructure across the UK?

Diane Coyle By Marianne Sensier and Diane Coyle Filed Under: Budget, Devo, Growth and Inclusion Posted: January 29, 2020

Professor Diane Coyle and Dr Marianne Sensier have recently conducted research comparing transport infrastructure projects that have used HM Treasury’s Green Book. In this blog they argue that this methodology, alongside political prioritisation of projects in and around London, has reinforced existing success in wealthy, already highly productive parts of the UK. Future infrastructure investment […]

Tagged With: business, Business Energy & Industry, diversity, energy & industry, equalities, equality, inclusive growth, inequalities, inequality, Levelling Up, national railway, productivity, Regional imbalances, transport

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Brexit and Social Mobility: England’s Left Behind Communities

By Marianne Sensier and Fiona Devine Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, British Politics, Growth and Inclusion Posted: June 12, 2017

Since the Brexit vote in the EU referendum of 23rd June 2016 the political turmoil that followed has been unprecedented with a change of Prime Minister and cabinet, a leadership challenge in the Labour party and Theresa May calling a General Election. Social mobility is high on the political agenda with Theresa May’s first speech […]

Tagged With: Brexit, inclusion, opportunity, social mobility

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Budget Hack: Moving people up the value chain – Marianne Sensier

By Marianne Sensier Filed Under: Budget Hack Posted: March 8, 2017

I welcome the announcement in the Chancellor’s budget today of a boost in funding for UK skills. This comes up time and time again at the local and national level when talking about increasing productivity. People getting better skills and landing higher paid work will increase UK productivity over the longer term. Having a greater […]

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Can devolution deliver inclusive growth? You can bank on it!

By Marianne Sensier Filed Under: All posts, Devo, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth, Urban Posted: December 15, 2016

With Devolution, Greater Manchester has an opportunity to encourage investment and inclusive growth by setting its own policy agenda. Dr Marianne Sensier puts the case for the creation of a regional bank within the new mayor’s policy agenda. A regional bank will provide finance for business and allow people to save their money which in […]

Tagged With: productivity

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Why Brexit means less resilience to recession

By Marianne Sensier Filed Under: All posts, Brexit Posted: June 22, 2016

Some, including Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney, have predicted a possible recession for the UK if the vote is for leave tomorrow. In the final countdown to polling day, Marianne Sensier argues a Brexit could lead to less resilience to recession, particularly in our regions. A few years ago, Mike Artis and I […]

Tagged With: economic policy, employment, EU referendum, europe, recession, UK regions

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