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A series of empirical research studies, underpinned by economic theory, explored enterprise support and urban settlement structure. The research contributed significantly to the evidence base used by East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) in developing their Regional Economic Strategy (RES), and was key in shaping two of the Strategic Priorities. More generally, the research-based recommendations informed EMDA policy development, in particular, the £290 million Single Programme investment set out in the RES. The research also helped shape county councils' support for enterprise, innovation and business. More recently, the research has informed the shape of regional economic development beyond the regional development agencies into new government policy through the new Local Enterprise Partnerships; for example Lincolnshire's £14 million investment in broadband.
This case study captures the aftermath of the abolition of Regional Development Agencies and Government Offices in England after 2010. The research underpinning this case study analysed the shift from `regionalism' to `localism' in the North East of England and found that the abolition of the regional tier of governance in England did not invalidate the continuing need for multi-level policy coordination, networking and `voice' at the regional level. These findings, characterised as `Common-Sense Regionalism', directly led to the creation (by Central Government) of a Cross-Government Group of national and sub-national civil servants, representatives from local government and from the voluntary sector.
The North East Economic Model (NEEM) was designed and developed at Durham University Business School (DUBS) from 2003. Customized to the regional economy, the aim of the research was for NEEM to model intra- and extra-regional economic relationships to provide quantitative estimates/projections of the impact of both long-term economic trends and shorter-term economic `shocks'. Its application has had significant impacts on policy practitioners in the region by: (1) facilitating more robust evidence-based policy analysis; (2) giving rise to knowledge transfer to policy-makers regarding the structure and workings of the regional economy; and (3) acting as a catalyst for an extended regional policy-modeling capacity. By influencing professional practice, it has had demonstrable impacts on regional economic policy, regional economic restructuring and local planning.
The governance geography adopted for the new Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) in 2010 drew significantly on our research which showed that the functioning economic geography of the West Midlands included a distinctive economic growth belt that lies between 20km and 40km of the Birmingham conurbation. The approach taken by policy-makers and business leaders in the area to include this belt within the partnership area, extending it well beyond the core conurbation of Birmingham and Solihull, drew on research by Bryson, Daniels and Taylor. The LEP has continued to use the formulation of the enterprise belt in its subsequent proposals and developments, which cover an area with a population of nearly two million people, supporting 918,000 jobs and a GVA of about £35.5 billion. The influence of the Birmingham research on its approach is clear from the explicit references by the GBSLEP and other agencies to the term E3I, combining `economic', `entrepreneurial', `environmental' and `innovation' drivers of local economic growth, which was coined to describe the belt in the Birmingham research outputs.
Aston's research on inward investment has had considerable reach and significance, improving economic policy analysis on the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI). The research has:
This impact case study is based on research concerning the estimation of regional economic impacts through input-output models and spatial econometrics. The research resulted in the distribution of a free modelling software package to decision-makers throughout the South West region and has had policy impacts in terms of the influence of advice, data, and reports provided to a range of organisations including the South West Regional Development Agency, Plymouth City Council, and several other local councils and private sector decision-makers.
Researchers at the University of Aberdeen's Health Economics Research Unit (HERU) have developed a theoretical model of the causes of local variations in the competitiveness of pay in the public sector and shown the impact of these variations on health and teaching services. Recommendations arising from the research have changed the way funding is distributed to: Primary Care Trusts in England and Wales; the adjustment for excess costs in the resource allocation formula for health services in Scotland; and the structure of regional pay for doctors in the UK. The evidence also underpinned proposals by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2012 to introduce local pay for health service and teaching professionals in England.
The claimed impact, as defined by REF guidance, is therefore on policy debate and decisions, legislation and service delivery influenced by research.
Research at the University of Strathclyde has increased the economic and policy modelling capacity of the Scottish Government. This has been affected through collaboration between researchers at Strathclyde and the Office of the Chief Economic Advisor (OCEA) and the Scottish Government-funded Centre of Expertise in Climate Change, ClimateXChange. The improvement in modelling capability and scope has enhanced the process of policy formation and evaluation, as well as the outcomes from it. This has allowed for improved decision making in the Scottish Government, allowed significant budget savings, improved advice to Scottish Ministers, improved interaction with the Westminster Government and resulted in a more informed public debate on policy decisions.