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 […]
The Levelling-up Budget?
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 […]
How resilient were UK regions to the 2008 financial crisis? Recovery policies for COVID-19 crisis
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. […]
Levelling up regional resilience
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, […]
Can we ‘level up’ transport infrastructure across the UK?
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 […]
Brexit and Social Mobility: England’s Left Behind Communities
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 […]
Budget Hack: Moving people up the value chain – Marianne Sensier
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 […]
Can devolution deliver inclusive growth? You can bank on it!
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 […]
Why Brexit means less resilience to recession
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 […]