Abstract

In this seminar, we examine the scale and nature of the UK’s spatial inequalities, among the worst of any major OECD economy, how they have evolved over several decades, and the immense policy challenge they present. We then critically examine the main features of the new Levelling Up programme, its theoretical underpinnings, its aims and its policies, and argue that while there is much in this policy programme that is welcome, ultimately it fails to convince, and that it will have to be substantially strengthened in various ways if it is to have any significant and lasting success.

The seminar draws upon the following publications by the researchers:

Levelling Up Left Behind Places: The Scale and Nature of the Economic and Policy Challenge , Ron Martin, Ben Gardiner, Andy Pike, Peter Sunley and Peter Tyler (Routledge), 2021.

‘Levelling Up: Reinforcing the Policy Agenda’ (Ron Martin, Ben Gardiner, Andy Pike, Peter Sunley and Peter Tyler), Regional Studies, Regional Science, 9, pp. 794-818. (2022) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21681376.2022.2150562