The dynamics of local economies and deprived neighbourhoods

This report outlines the dynamics of local economies and how deprived neighbourhoods interact within the wider sub-regional context. The roles of different agencies is discussed, mapping how each contributes to the overall effort to bring prosperity to deprived neighbourhoods

Overeducation across British regions

This paper analyses levels of over-education and wage returns to education for males across eleven regions of the UK using Labour Force Survey data. Significant differences are found in the probability of being over-educated across regions; also, differences are found in the return to the ‘correct’ level of education in each region, in each case associated with flexibility of movement between and into particular regions, which determines the ease of job matching. Furthermore, evidence is found that, after controlling for the level of education acquired, there exists a premium to the ‘correct’ level of education, which varies across UK regions

Devolved governance and the economic problems of deprived areas: the cases of Scotland, Wales and four English Regions

A study that links two of the main policy agendas of the last ten years: devolution of power, and policies to tackle deprivation. The study looks at: how far the economic and social aspects of regeneration are being effectively linked; the extent to which political devolution in Scotland, Wales and London is bringing greater strategic attention to the needs of deprived areas; successful initiatives and how they have worked. The main report is supported by two additional volumes: Devolved governance and the economic problems of deprived areas: The cases of Scotland, Wales and four English Regions (PDF, 1.6MB) looks in detail at the governance arrangements in six study areas and their impact on tackling the economic and employment needs of people living in deprived places. Interventions to tackle the economic needs of deprived areas: Analysis of six policy case studies (PDF, 544KB) examines six policy initiatives that show good practice of joint working and effective linking of economic and social objectives

Local area agreements and local economic development

This study explores the variations in the number and types of economic indicators adopted across different localities within the 2008 Local Area Agreement (LAA) process by identifying the factors that influenced indicator selection and the extent and nature of the relationship of the adopted indicators to processes of local economic development. It does not cover subsequent negotiations on the refresh of LAAs. Ten case study localities characterised by different numbers and types of economic indicators were purposively selected to reflect different types of local economic conditions and governance arrangement

Informal economic activities and deprived neighbourhoods.

This report reviews the relative advantages and disadvantages of some types of informal activity to people in deprived neighbourhoods. It cites ways to incentivise and support people who can move from informal to formal status

Comparative report on the innovation groups

Work package four focuses on healthy organisations, defined as those that meet the dual needs of the organisation and its employees. The first phase involved individual interviews in one case study organisation in each partner country, examining workplace change and its impact on current quality of life. The second phase involved innovation groups, building on the interviews. This report focuses on the innovation groups. The aims of the innovation groups were: • to disseminate the analysis of the interviews to participants, • to address the challenges identified in this analysis in terms of the potential impacts on the dual agenda of enhancing quality of (working) life and workplace effectiveness, • to begin to engage participants in the collaborative development of small innovations that could help to meet these dual objectives

Interventions to tackle the economic needs of deprived areas: analysis of six policy case studies.

Interventions to tackle the economic needs of deprived areas: Analysis of six policy case studies (PDF, 544KB) examines six policy initiatives that show good practice of joint working and effective linking of economic and social objectives

Formalising new arrival enterprises: challenges of new ethnic entrepreneurship for business support policy.

There has been little research carried out on ethnic entrepreneurship and the informal economy, especially among new and emerging ethnic minority business communities in the UK. Informality is however estimated not only to be an important phenomenon among these groups but seems also to underlie the existing gap between entrepreneurs and business support policies. This project identifies, localises, and characterises the new and emerging ethnic minority business communities in London. It then critically examines the nature of informality among these groups and the challenges that this poses to enterprise policy. The research methodology comprised a review of existing literature and case studies of new immigrant entrepreneurs (50 in total) and community-based organisations and business advisors (15 in total). Primary data was collected using semi structured interviews, field observations, and casual encounters with entrepreneurs and key informants

Economies of deprived neighbourhoods: summary of research

This report provides a synthesis and summaries of three rapid evidence reviews concerning the economies of deprived neighbourhoods. It covers the overall dynamics of local economies and provides more detailed evidence concerning skills, worklessness and the informal economy