Policy Hub
An independent report published by Centre for Cities on 18 January 2010 demonstrates that over the last year the recession has hit cities hard and put a decade of urban renaissance on hold. Unemployment has risen sharply, particularly among young people.
The cities hit hardest have been those with the lowest skills and employment in exposed sectors. The report insists that the priority for the next year should be to get the UK back on a path to balanced growth and economic resilience. In order to strengthen cities' roles as centres for business and jobs, an understanding of the economic roles of different places is crucial.
The report ranks the economic performance of 64 of the UK's largest cities and towns. It also includes an analysis of the economic performance of the city regions, a wider definition of urban areas, and a summary of regional devolution to date.