The Future of Local Economic Development

This book looks at the future role of local economic development. Once New Labour came to power in 1997, they sought a third way between the new right agenda of Thatcherism with its attempts to reduce the role of the local state and foster a free market and the left?s attempts to take more control over the local economy in the interest of workers. In July 2007, Gordon Brown?s government published the 'Review of Sub-national Economic Development and Regeneration'.

This book argues that competitiveness and neo-liberalism, or increased market domination over an ever wider range of social relations, have in reality dominated New Labour?s policies. Yet a number of contradictions remain as New Labour continues to seek a reduction in poverty and regional and local disparities. The book analyses the changes that will result from further market domination under the Sub-national Review but also the opportunities that will arise for local economic development agents, particularly those with a concern for social justice. It looks specifically at regional and sub-regional strategy making; partnership, networking and building institutional capacity; local labour market policy and policy towards cities. An additional feature of the book is that several authors draw on international comparisons.

This book was published as a special issue of Local Economy.

Preface: Local Economic Development in the Credit Crunch Ines Newman VIEWPOINT 1. Regions, Economies and Planning in England after the Sub-national Review Tim Marshall 2. The Future of Economic Development after the Sub-national Review Greg Clark FEATURES 3. Introduction: The Future of Local Economic Development Ines Newman 4. Labouring and Learning towards Competitiveness: The Future of Local Labour Markets after Harker, Leitch and Freud Alex Nunn and Steve Johnson 5. The Soft Spaces of Local Economic Development Graham Haughton and Phil Allmendinger 6. A New Policy for Britain’s Cities: Choices, Challenges, Contradictions Ivan Turok 7. Reflexive Local and Regional Economic Development and International Policy Transfer Graham Haughton and Rachel Naylor IN PERSPECTIVE 8. Reflections of a Torontonian in Sheffield Ian Bromley 9. Sub-regional Economic Development – Consolidation and Culture John Berry 10. Building an Economic Development and Regeneration Future for Lincolnshire County Council Ivan Annibal 11. A Personal View on How the Role of the RDA Regeneration Practitioner will Change as a Result of SNR Tom Warburton

Ines Newman is Principal Research Fellow at the Warwick Business School, United Kingdom.