This ground breaking report from experts at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities is a once in a generation opportunity to level up the UK.
This ground breaking report from experts at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities is a once in a generation opportunity to level up the UK.
Enhancing Productivity in UK Core Cities: Connecting Local and Regional Growth, calls for a suite of wide-ranging policy measures that will boost productivity in both towns and cities, linking their economies to create business, jobs and wage growth.
The report shows that despite recent progress, the UK has a highly centralised fiscal system, which limits the ability of Core Cities to reach their full economic potential.
It also makes clear that towns and cities are mutually reliant, not economic islands, and that strengthening the links between them will further boost growth, particularly across city regions.
OECD Policy Highlights Document
This report’s recommendations represent a once in a generation chance to make the UK a more prosperous and more productive place.
Core Cities UK Cabinet member and Leader of Newcastle City Council Cllr Nick Forbes, said: “This report’s recommendations represent a once in a generation chance to make the UK a more prosperous and more productive place.
"As the report makes clear, our city regions and their networks of towns and cities have unusually low levels of productivity by international standards. Our economy is missing out on billions of pounds every year that could change the lives of millions living outside of London.
"But this report is about more than just big numbers and big cities. It is about how we can produce a prosperous and fair economy for our citizens regardless of where they live. Decentralising the UK will help raise productivity. We must continue our devolution journey and accelerate the pace.”