Briefs
Are league tables a valid way of looking at local economic performance?League tables that claim to show how ‘well-being’ varies across local authority areas regularly appear in the national press. They usually come with a national map highlighting Britain’s ‘happiest’, ‘loneliest’, ‘wealthiest’ and ‘healthiest’ communities – and the unfortunate places that lie at the opposite extreme. Name and shame league tables are either loved or hated by local politicians, particularly when they are picked up by the local press. However as this launch issue of Geoeconomics Briefs demonstrates, league tables are ‘bad science’ and undermine the Sub-National Review’s drive towards evidence-based policy. The use of league tables to assess how local authority areas ‘perform’ as local economies is seriously flawed on a number of grounds. Here we focus on a particular flaw: the impact of sample error in government data on local EARNINGS, the key indicator of local economic prosperity. To download the pdf version of the report, please submit your full name and email address.
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Latest News
The third issue of Geoeconomics Briefs can now be downloaded from the website. This Brief outlines a new model for sustainable economic development that integrates two paradigms – the Knowledge Economy and the Green Economy. We refer to this model as the “Green Knowledge Economy” (GKE). You can download the Brief here. Green Knowledge Economy Action Plan for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole MAA Partnership presented to DCLG. Mark Hepworth presentation described as a ‘tour de force’. The MAA Board has now formally adopted the Green Knowledge Economy framework and programmes for its sub-regional strategy. Bournemouth University to launch its new Centre for the Green Knowledge Economy based on Geoeconomics’ report for the MAA in April 2010. Mark Hepworth has been appointed a Visiting Professor at the new Centre and will work with the BU team to develop the GKE paradigm as a framework for technological, organisational and social innovation. Sarah Forster is working with CGAP to develop a guide on how microfinance donors and investors can support savings mobilization. Savings is the most neglected financial service available to the poor. The guide is expected to be a useful tool in helping expand poor people's access to savings services. Taunton’s draft economic development strategy based on the Green Knowledge Economy paradigm was completed in January. This is the UK’s first local economic development strategy which applies the GKE “green and grow” framework. Geoeconomics worked in partnership with Taunton’s economic development team led by Philip Sharratt. Berkshire Economic Strategy Board has commissioned Geoeconomics to refresh its vision for Britain’s leading sub-regional economy outside London. Mark Hepworth is interviewing business leaders and policy makers from across Berkshire and its six local authorities to create a new vision and recommend future strategic directions. Geoeconomics will prepare a local economic assessment for the London Borough of Bexley. The assessment will follow DCLG Guidance and provide an opportunity for Bexley to create a powerful evidence base for its economic development activity, in the context of the Mayor’s new spatial and economic development strategies for Outer London and the Thames Gateway. All past Geoeconomics news items can be found in our news archive
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