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Industrial strategy and the UK regions: sectorally narrow and spatially blind

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  • Steve Fothergill
  • Tony Gore
  • Peter Wells

Abstract

The UK government’s new Industrial Strategy could have a significant impact on the country’s regions and localities. However, this has received little attention to date. The analysis presented here examines the existing location of the sectors targeted by the first phase of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and the location of the R&D laboratories likely to be first in line for funding. In focusing on an extremely narrow range of sectors, the Fund is likely to have limited impact on the UK’s persistent regional inequalities. The activities eligible for support account for relatively little of manufacturing or the rest of the economy and the basis of this targeting and its potential distributional consequences are spatially blind. As such, it runs the risk of widening regional divides in prosperity.

Suggested Citation

  • Steve Fothergill & Tony Gore & Peter Wells, 2019. "Industrial strategy and the UK regions: sectorally narrow and spatially blind," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 12(3), pages 445-466.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:cjrecs:v:12:y:2019:i:3:p:445-466.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/cjres/rsz016
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    2. Andrew Johnston & Peter Wells, 2020. "Assessing the role of universities in a place-based Industrial Strategy: Evidence from the UK," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 35(4), pages 384-402, June.
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    5. Peter Sunley & Jack L Harris & Andy Pike & Richard Harris & Ron Martin & Emil Evenhuis, 2022. "Industrial policies, strategy and the UK’s Levelling Up agenda," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 37(5), pages 403-418, August.
    6. Mikhail Martynovich & Teis Hansen & Karl-Johan Lundquist, 2023. "Can foundational economy save regions in crisis?," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 23(3), pages 577-599.
    7. Penny Mealy & Diane Coyle, 2022. "To them that hath: economic complexity and local industrial strategy in the UK," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 29(2), pages 358-377, April.
    8. Birgitte Nygaard & Teis Hansen, 2020. "Local development through the foundational economy? Priority-setting in Danish municipalities," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 35(8), pages 768-786, December.
    9. Mikhail Martynovich & Teis Hansen & Karl-Johan Lundquist, 2023. "Can foundational economy save regions in crisis?," Journal of International Economic Law, Oxford University Press, vol. 23(3), pages 577-599.
    10. Yu.G. Myslyakova, 2021. "Fundamentals of Economic Genetics in Models of Evolution and Revitalization of Old Industrial Regions," Journal of Applied Economic Research, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, vol. 20(3), pages 489-523.

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