|

Search

National School of Government

Feedback

• Request email bulletins
• Website feedback

From recession to recovery: the local dimension

On 17 November 2008, the Local Government Association (LGA) published a report (From recession to recovery: the local dimension) which seeks to determine how each area of the country could be affected by the economic downturn if no action is taken.

The report forecasts that:

• The hardest hit industries will be construction and manufacturing whilst high skilled industries look set to remain relatively unscathed.
• The recent growth of big northern cities means they are relatively well placed to cope with the effects of the recession.
• Almost two in five jobs that could be at risk over the next two years are in London and the South East.
• Even within specific regions there are likely to be marked differences in how particular localities fare.

The report warns that a national, blanket policy to deal with the recession will be unable to target help effectively to specific areas. Instead, it calls for as many economic decisions as possible to be taken at a local level to ensure that local solutions can be found to local problems. As major employers, purchasers and providers, the report argues that councils are best placed to revive local economies and help people in need.

From recession to recovery: the local dimension (PDF)