You can download the slides from the event here.
With Brexit and Covid-19 the UK is facing two large economic disruptions that are clearly affecting some places more negatively than others. In the absence of adequate policy intervention they will likely worsen spatial disparities in the UK even further.
Regional or spatial inequalities are a concern in most (if not all) countries, and with the current ‘levelling-up’ agenda they are also a priority of policymakers in the UK.
Most often spatial inequalities are analysed as differences in GDP per capita or productivity at some subnational level of aggregation (e.g. regions, cities, local authorities). However, regional inequalities can have many dimensions, not all of which are apparent in standard macroeconomic measures of the economy. As well as regional differences in average income and wealth, there are differences in opportunity and job quality, health and wellbeing. Ultimately, while spatial denominations of places can sometimes feel arbitrary, there are systematic differences in the productivity and wellbeing of individuals across these spatial areas, and these merit the attention of policymakers.
This event will bring together experts on spatial inequalities in the UK. The short presentations will be based on articles forthcoming in the August special issue of the National Institute Economic Review on spatial inequalities in the UK. Presentations will be followed by a panel discussion with all presenters.
Dr David Nguyen, Senior Economist at NIESR, will be chairing the event.
Panellists