Spatial Economics
Spatial research provides evidence for the region on various
aspects of its economic geography: understanding economic linkages,
identifying sub-regions and working across administrative
boundaries. Gathering accurate and objective knowledge of how the
regional economy works in this way is critical; even more so in a
future of budgetary constraints.
The Spatial
Review is part of a series of thematic reviews. It paints an
over-arching picture of the whole economy of the South West and the
differences and similarities across its geographic parts, providing
some useful context and insight against which more detailed local
economic analysis can be considered.
The following research activity provides a true understanding of
economic flows and linkages in and beyond the region: how places in
the region really interact. This evidence should be used to guide
policy development and to ensure that reduced resources can be
concentrated where they will bring strong benefit.
South West Growth Scenarios - 2010
This suite of Growth Scenarios sets out the parameters of
reasonable expectations for the South West economy over the next
twenty years, exploring how these play out across the region.
Ranging from optimistic to pessimistic, South West Growth
Scenarios sets out the impact of three potential alternate outcomes
for the South West for the period 2010 to 2030 and explores these
at a regional and sub-regional level, as well as discussing the
macro-economic background. The report is accompanied by a
comprehensive database for sub-regions and local areas within SW
England.
South
West Growth Scenarios – 2010 (pdf document)
Stronger
trend growth forecasts (Excel document, 2.11MB)
Central
trend growth forecasts (Excel document, 2.10MB)
Weaker
trend growth forecasts (Excel document, 2.11MB)
Functional Economic Market Areas
Economic flows often overlap local authority boundaries. This
means that the functional area over which the local economy and its
key markets operate will not necessarily fit with administrative
boundaries. Instead, key economic markets broadly match with
sub-regions or city regions - known as functional economic market
areas (FEMAs).
This research tool is a resource through which economic
geographies of areas and places in the South West can be readily
understood. It is not intended to arrive at a single set of
sub-regional boundaries based on ‘best fit’ however, but by
identifying FEMA boundaries, local authorities can consider the
benefits of collaborating with neighbouring areas over a variety of
key markets.
The Spatial
Economic Analysis Tool is available on the South West
Observatory website.
Productivity, Agglomeration and Spillovers
Spatial investment is partly designed to have benefits wider
than those immediate local effects where investment takes place.
Understanding current spillover effects from the regions’ major
urban areas, for example, will help to maximise the effectiveness
of place-based spending.
This research informs the debate about investment in priority
places. Using evidence from 1998-2005, it suggests there is a link
from spillovers to relative productivity, even though these
benefits may not spillover far into the hinterland of urban
centres. There is a virtuous circle when these elements are working
together but there is fairly weak evidence that the more
peripheral, rural areas benefit from this circle.
Productivity,
Agglomeration and Spillovers (pdf document)
For further information please contact Jo.Johns@southwestrda.org.uk