Urban Economy
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"People can't live in museums"- paper on sustainable historic city centres
13 Nov 2007"Since the advent of global tourism and with the help of mass media, cities like Venice have been propelled into the international arena. The tourism boom has forced Venice to isolate, conserve and package its built environment for mass consumption", Michiel van Iersel states in his paper 'People can't live in museums'. Historic city centres in Europe often tend to become open-air museums rather than attractive places for people to live in. But does such an approach guarantee a sustainable future? And are there any alternative strategies?
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2006 Statistical Atlas of Urban Areas of Spain
29 Nov 2007The 2006 Statistical Atlas of Urban Areas of Spain published by the Ministry of Housing and available in an on-line version, offers a diagnosis of the true situation and urban processes in Spain with updated information broken down by regions with the aim of providing assistance for better understanding the urban phenomenon and its trends and contributing to a better knowledge of the Spanish social and cultural reality.
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A Dynamic Model of Urban Composition and Growth
28 Nov 2007Quality of the Business Environment Versus Quality of Life in a Dynamic Model of Urban Composition and Growth: Do Firms and Households Like the Same Cities?
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A framework for city-regions - UK
01 Feb 2006The final report of a study, the aim of which was to develop the evidence base necessary to underpin a move towards a national policy framework for City-Regions.
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A New Policy for Britain’s Cities: Choices, Challenges, Contradictions
16 Feb 2010There has been a sea change in the way cities are perceived over the last decade. The last special issue of Local Economy in 1999 was dominated by problems of urban decline and difficulties in securing regeneration. Today cities are in vogue among consumers, tourists and investors, with a physical transformation underway in many city centres and water front locations. This is mirrored by a shift in government thinking – cities are now portrayed as vital economic and cultural assets and part of the solution to neighbourhood poverty and regional inequalities. But does Britain’s urban renaissance go beyond glittering shopping malls, hotels and apartment blocks to provide a durable economic base fit for the twenty-first century? And will the government’s emerging sub-national policy really help to strengthen and sustain the revival of former industrial areas?
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Accession to Recession: A8 migration in Bristol & Hull
16 Mar 2009The aim of this study was to examine the differential labour market effects from A8 migration on two contrasting city economies - Bristol and Hull. The research was conducted during October 2008 and January 2009 - a time when both labour markets underwent a significant contraction, as a result of the global downturn. By the end of January 2009, there were five Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants for every job vacancy in Bristol, compared to 22 in Hull. For the first time, A8 migration is now taking place against the backdrop of increased competition for fewer jobs.
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Alternative approaches to casino-led regeneration
05 Sep 2008Local authorities have been keen to explore the potential for casinos to achieve regeneration through the creation of jobs in deprived areas, physical change to an area through investment in projects on brown field land sites, and producing wider indirect benefits to an area through multiplier effects. However, there is uncertainty about the scale of these benefits. This report, published by 'Communities and Local Government', reviews the alternatives to casino-led regeneration and explores their possible impact on deprived areas.
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Amsterdam Top City: a new role in the global economy
14 Jul 2006In order to keep a head of the global competition, Amsterdam needs to renew itself. The Amsterdam Top City programme book presents the city’s vision on boosting innovation and the knowledge economy.
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An Assessment of Current Provision for Skills Needs in the Asset Skills Sector
30 Aug 2007The purpose of this report is to set out the results of a comprehensive research programme which has sought to assess the current provision for skill needs in the Asset Skills sector.
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Assessment of Training Needs in Urban Regeneration and Development
04 Sep 2007This research report examines the skills deficit around leadership skills in the delivery of physical regeneration projects.
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Belfast: Tipping the Balance
19 Mar 2009Over the last decade of political and macroeconomic stability, Belfast has seen the start of an economic transformation, with city-centre regeneration, and jobs growth in key areas. However, the city still faces significant challenges, and in particular recent gains are at risk as the world economy enters a severe recession. This report has outlined three key areas where Belfast and Greater Belfast need to focus policy efforts in order to sustain recent economic progress.
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Benchmark of local enterprise climate 2005
21 May 2005The Benchmark Gemeentelijk Ondernemingsklimaat (local enterprise climate benchmark) is one of the products of the agreements on urban policy between the Dutch government and the Netherlands’ thirty largest towns and cities in 2000. Does urban policy contribute to improving the climate for enterprise? A baseline survey was carried out in 2000, an interim survey in 2002 and the concluding survey in 2005.
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Brussels - urban integration port of Brussels
09 Jan 2007Integration of port activities into their urban context
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Brussels as an international city
24 Feb 2009European institutions employ around 40,000 Europeans from all and any origins. More than 20,000 lobbyists, 1,400 journalists and 5,332 diplomats gravitate around the institutions. Brussels hosts close to 300 regional representations, another extra 2,500 international agencies, more than 2,000 international companies and 150 international law firms. Yet a majority of the 30% of non-Belgian Brussels residents aren’t anywhere close to the European spheres. They live in the city centre, in rundown areas, and few profit from Brussels’ internationalisation. Just like many 'grassroots citizens' of Brussels, they are excluded from the city’s current development model. The authors of 'Brussels as an international city' therefore wonder whether internationalisation is the right development strategy for Brussels.
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Building a competitive city region - Newcastle, UK
01 Jul 2006The report reviews the potential of the Newcastle metropolitan area to become a competitive city region.
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Casinos and regeneration: the story so far
02 Jul 2007This briefing note discusses the decision, announced by the Independent Casino Advisory Panel, that Manchester would host the UK’s first supercasino. It then assesses the relationship between casinos and regeneration generally.
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Charting the course: Growing South Hampshire's economy
16 Mar 2010The Partnership for Urban South Hampshire is part of Centre for Cities' Partner City research programme. The programme works closely with a small group of cities to inform economic development strategies and improve economic performance. This report looks at how PUSH, its component authorities and partners, can deliver on aspirations to close the growth gap with the South East, in light of the changing economic reality.
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City and Enterprise: Corporate Community Involvement in European and US Cities
09 Jun 2005What are the implications of corporate community involvement for the sustainable development of cities and the creation of cross-sector partnerships?
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City leadership: empowering city regions to grow - UK
01 Jan 2006The report sets out the economic case for financial devolution to England’s cities and towns. It argues that more financial powers and autonomy are essential for urban areas to achieve their economic potential.
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City Relationships: Economic linkages in UK Northern City Regions
11 Nov 2009The City Relationships research programme was carried out between October 2008 and November 2009 by the Work Foundation, Centre for Cities and SURF, commissioned and sponsored by the Northern Way and the Department of Communitiesand Local Government.
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City-regions: policy and practice - lessons from France, Germany and the Netherlands
01 Feb 2006A working paper which looks at European experiences of policy and practice on city-regions, drawing on a workshop addressed by expert speakers from France, Germany and the Netherlands.
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Communities in recession: the impact on deprived neighbourhoods
21 Oct 2009he first ever analysis of the impact of recession on local communities over the past 30 years, conducted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), reveals that many deprived communities struggle before, during and after recessions, and even during periods of economic growth.
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Communities in recession: the reality in four neighbourhoods
29 Jan 2010As the recession has taken hold in the UK, debate has raged over fiscal stimulus packages, banking bailouts and now when it will officially end. But while unemployment has continued to rise and businesses fail, there has been little focus on its effect on communities, particularly the most deprived.
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Consumer City
06 Dec 2007This paper discusses four particularly critical urban amenities in the process of urban growth.
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Creating an Ideopolis: case study of Manchester
01 Sep 2006A report on the policy and institutional architecture needed to create an Ideopolis focusing on Manchester as a case study.
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Culture revives urban life in Albanian cities
31 Oct 2007City development begins when inhabitants recognise the specific potentials of their city and start creatively using these resources. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) helps the citizens of the Shkodra and Pogradecto revitalise their cities by building capacity. The project encourages creative solutions to problems in order to revive urban life. The definition of creative cities used in the project focuses on inclusiveness and capacity building. It recognises that creativity runs deeper than just the artistic profession –creativity can be found in all sectors and should be fostered amongst all citizens.
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Economic analysis of the Chicago Loop district - USA
01 Nov 2006The Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) recently completed the first-ever comprehensive economic analysis of Chicago’s downtown Loop district, combining the most recent findings and statistics about the area into one all-inclusive report.
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Economic and financial crisis: impact on towns and regions worse than thought!
12 Jan 2010Contrary to statements by EU and international institutions that 2010 will see an economic and financial improvement, Europe's local and regional authorities fear that 2010 will be as difficult as 2009 or even worse. This is the main finding of CEMR's second survey on the impact of the crisis on Europe's towns and regions. The survey was compiled from the data provided by 32 national associations of local and regional government members of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.
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Economic linkages across space
01 Jan 2006An investigation into the linkages between cities which mean that economic changes in one city can have effects on other cities and regions.
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Economic Structure and Growth in the Brussels Metropolitain Area
02 Dec 2008The Brussels-Capital Region must deal with a problem of massive unemployment affecting its less skilled residents in particular. The temptation is thus great for the public authorities to give priority to implementing a policy to promote branches of activity that employ low-skilled workers. Such sectoral targeting is of course praiseworthy, given the urgency of the challenges that must be met. However, it may not be free from detrimental effects on local economic growth in the long run.
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Ecoprofit, Graz
05 Feb 2007Ecoprofit is a PPP program serving environmental goals (as the reduction of emissions and energy savings) as well as the efficiency of the business sector, based on specific training of consultants.
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ECORYS predicts moderate economic growth for the 4 largest Dutch cities
02 Aug 2006Economic predictions for Amsterdam look good. Rotterdam, on the other hand, is far down the list of the 46 European cities ranked for future economic growth by ECORYS, an organisation that contributes to the annual "European Regional Prospects". Just as in earlier years, cities in Eastern Europe top the list. Meanwhile, Amsterdam’s ranking of 14th gives it the highest expectations for economic growth of any city in this country.
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Enabling cities in the knowledge economy
01 Oct 2006An independent report which explores the importance of knowledge cities to the UK economy and looks at the implications for future policy.
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Enterprise: Business Start-up in Two NDC Areas
This report is the third in a series of publications relating to the availability of Jobs which are accessible to NDC residents. It focuses on business start-up in two NDC areas and explores the interventions which have been developed and implemented in each area.
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Entrepreneur’s role is essential to neighbourhood economies
23 Jul 2008The local economy plays an essential role in the improvement of the social quality of life in a neighbourhood. Entrepreneurs play their own part by reporting nuisance to local authorities, registering complaints about management or maintenance, attending participation meetings and stimulating voluntary work in the neighbourhood.
Municipalities should, therefore, improve acquaintance with subsidies of businesses who invest in security measures. These are some of the conclusions and recommendations made in the report: “de Kracht van de Wijk” by Rabobank in cooperation with Amsterdam City Council and MKB Amsterdam. -
EUROCITIES survey on Recession And Recovery In The Cities
01 Nov 2009Over the past four months, EUROCITIES’ member-led task-force on recession and recovery has carried out work aimed at better understanding the impact of the recession in cities in order to help inform local level recovery actions.
Central to this has been:
* A survey of cities and the recession
* A collection of examples of city responses to the recession
* A new guide to city-relevant funding streams
At its final meeting in Brussels on 4 November, the task-force discussed the initial findings of EUROCITIES’ in-depth survey on the recession and recovery to which a total of 29 cities from 14 countries had responded. -
Europe as Social Space
08 Jul 2004Many see Europe as a threat to social policy. This undeserved image should be countered with the image of the EU as stimulating social values in Europe.
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European Capital of Culture Research Programme explores narratives of Liverpool
23 Jan 2008"In London nobody speaks to you and here everybody chats". 'Here' isLiverpool, one of 2008's European Capitals of Culture (ECoC). 'Impacts 08' is a research programme that evaluates the social, cultural, economic and environmental effects of Liverpool’s hosting this popular title. In this report 'Re-telling the city - exploring narratives of Liverpool', researchers explore the different perceptions of the city. Local residents involved in the service sector were asked to talk about their personal perceptions of the city, and the way they believed (inter)national tourists thought about Liverpool. Important questions that were addressed also concerned the 'official' narratives of the city of Liverpool and the influence of the European Capital of Culture event on perceptions and stories about Liverpool.
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European Cities and Regions of the Future 2008/2009
05 May 2008Every year fDi (Foreign Direct Investment) publishes the results of their special benchmark for European regions and cities. Cities and regions were evaluated on the basis of 75 indicators of locations’ attractiveness for investment and potential for economic development. In this year's Cities & Regions of the Future Report, London is the top city, followed by Paris and Berlin. Scotland is the leading region, followed by Flanders and Northern Ireland.
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European Growth and Jobs Monitor 2009
24 Mar 2009While in early 2008 Europe was still more or less on track to meet the Lisbon Agenda targets, the situation has deteriorated dramatically in recent months. Today, Europe finds itself in the throes of what may still prove to be the deepest recession since 1929. The political focus has been understandably on short-term crisis management. But far from being enough, we urgently need more strategic thinking about the world that will emerge in the post-crisis era, and the role that Europe hopes to play in it.
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Evaluation of City Growth Strategies
30 Aug 2007GHK was commissioned by the Small Business Service (SBS) to undertake an evaluation of the City Growth Strategies pilot in seven places in England.
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Fifty years of office building production in Brussels
22 Feb 2010The development of the administrative function and the related growth in the surface area of offices in Brussels reflects the significance of societal changes during the post-war years in the city. Within a period of 50 years, the office stock has changed considerably, with its surface area having increased more than tenfold and its area of implantation having spread beyond the regional boundaries. This evolution has had a major impact on the city, from an urbanistic as well as an economic and social point of view. In this article, Christian Dessouroux provides an overview of the spatial development of office building production in Brussels and its effects on the city.
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Foreclosures greatly weaken city neighbourhoods
12 Jan 2010The mortgage crisis does not only affect individual families, but also greatly impacts on neighbourhoods. That is one of the main conclusions of the report 'Communities at Risk', published by the American philanthropic collaborative 'Living Cities'. The report explores projects undertaken in local communities that have attempted to reverse the negative effects of the credit crunch on their area. It aims to identify obstacles keeping these community groups from greater success and to recommend changes to local, state and federal policies in the United States.
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Future Story- Bristol and the South West
25 Feb 2010Connectivity to today's world markets and constant innovation is helping Bristol South West adapt to a changing global context and create prosperity for a new age.
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Future Story: Derby and the East Midlands
12 Jun 2009Many industries and business have grown up in Derby and the East Midlands since the industrial revolution. Some, like lace and silk, are long gone now. Others, like trains and planes, are serving world markets and have global workforces.
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FutureStory: Newcastle & the North East
23 Oct 2009The North East of England is famous for big industries, coal mining and shipbuilding – which grew out of innovation and the enterprise of the people of the region. While these have gone now, new innovative industries and entrepreneurial businesses are starting to take their place.
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FutureStory: Southampton
13 Jul 2009FutureStory: Southampton is the second in a series, by the Centre for Cities, of forward-looking books promoting a wider understanding of how globalisation is changing everyday lives and jobs in six cities and regions.
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Heerlen: District consultant stimulates neighbourhood economy
31 Dec 2006The municipality is appointing a district consultant who will actively search for (potential) small-scale entrepreneurs and support new and existing entrepreneurship. The neighbourhood consultant will operate from a so-called enterprise shop.
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Helsinki Regional Economy - A Dynamic City in the European Urban Network
30 Nov 2005The study provides a comparative overview of the economy of European metropolises. The emphasis is on the comparison of Helsinki with other European metropolises with respect to size, economic structure and economic performance. Of particular interest is the role of the metropolises in generating economic growth in their respective home countries, and their impact on Europe as a whole.
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Higher Education in the Chicago Loop and South Loop: An Impact Study – USA
01 Jan 2005This study examines the impact of over twenty higher education institutions in Chicago’s Loop and South Loop. Together these two areas make up forl large part Chicago’s downtown area. The study shows that the higher education institutions in the Loop and South Loop have a potent impact on the Chicago economy, as well as the character of the downtown.
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How to get from crisis to comeback?
28 Oct 2009Textile cities were fascinating cities. Many people will be familiar with the moving histories of cities like Manchester, Roubaix and Tilburg, represented in books, films and art works. Because textile cities were among the oldest of the industrial cities, they were also among the first to experience the downsides of industrialisation. They were the first cities that had to come up with innovative transformation strategies to reverse the negative effects of their downturn. The cities discussed in the book 'Comeback Cities - Transformation strategies for former industrial cities', are considered to be cities that made a major comeback. They were able to transform their city from a centre of textile production into a centre of novel ideas. In a time when cities are looking for new ways to regenerate their economies and urban spaces, this book forms a good source of inspiration.
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Hull: Growing the Real Economy
01 May 2009Kingston-upon-Hull is a Partner City in the Centre for Cities research programme ‘Unlocking City Potential and Sustaining City Growth’. The programme works closely with a small group of cities to inform economic development strategies and improve economic performance. This report sets out policy analysis and recommendations in response to three principal questions:How can Hull city promote economic development across the real economy of its city-region? What should be Hull City Council’s priorities to encourage the growth of higher-value business sectors and employment? How can workforce skills and aspirations be increased in Hull?
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Identity & Branding - Area-specific development leads to successful neighbourhoods - NL
01 Nov 2003‘Identity and Branding’ focuses on the development of a method for strategic visions on area development, based upon place-identity and key values of the existing situation in urban areas. This new method is based on experience in four pilot projects in neighbourhoods in Rotterdam and The Hague.
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Ideopolis: knowledge cities - a review of quality of life measures
01 Jan 2006A review of the literature on quality of life and cities, focusing on the links between quality of life, economic success and the knowledge economy.
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Importance of cities to regional growth - UK
01 Mar 2006The report examines the economic importance of cities and considers the role of different levels of government in enhancing their economic performance.
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Improved metropolitan performance brings important gains for cities
18 Aug 2009Mayors and other civic leaders have grown to understand that improving their city’s educational attainment, reducing vehicle miles traveled and reducing poverty are important to regional success and economic prosperity. And while these strategies contribute to the general good, the payback from investments in these areas often seems distant and uncertain. However, a close examination by 'CEOs for cities' of actual urban performance across the United States reveals that stronger metro areas reap real, tangible and calculable economic benefits.
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Industrial Localisation and Economic Development - Salerno, Italy
01 Oct 2002The research described in this paper consists of an in-depth study of industrial localisation in an important area of the Italian Mezzogiorno: the province of Salerno.
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Innovation, science and the city
09 Oct 2008Innovation is a key driver of economic growth, and over the past ten years policy makers at all levels of government have strengthened efforts to increase rates of innovation in the UK. Research funding has been increased; more investment has gone into science parks; partnerships between the public sector, universities and businesses have been improved; and a wide range of technology transfer and business support policies have been introduced.
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Intelligent cities: knowledge based conditions for the development of European cities
09 Nov 2007Cities are the focal points of the knowledge economy. In cities, knowledge is produced, processed and marketed. The infrastructure for knowledge is mostly found in cities. A Knowledge City is a city that relies on Knowledge-Based Development (KBD) and possesses advanced means for facilitating dissemination and capitalisation of knowledge to its citizens. The 'Intelligent Cities -Innovative and Competitive Cities for Sustainable Development' project takes a closer look at intelligent cities and KBDs and provides political guidelines for creating innovative and competitive urban areas.
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Liverpool Vision – regenerating Liverpool city centre – UK
01 Jan 1999The City of Liverpool has been confronted with year long decline, growing unemployment resulting in increasing deprivation and a dramatic fall in population numbers. By forming a city wide partnership, with the support of regional, national and European authorities, the city seems to have been able to turn the tide.
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Liverpool's experience as European Capital of Culture
20 Apr 2010Becoming European Capital of Culture (ECoC) is something that many European cities aspire. But what does winning this title actually bring cities? The Impacts 08 research programme - a joint project of the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University - has been one of the first to explore this question in extensive detail. It has followed the city of Liverpool ever since it won the ECoC title in 2005, up to the actual cultural year in 2008 and its aftermath. The report 'Creating an impact: Liverpool's experience as European Capital of Culture' presents the final results of this 5 year research programme.
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London's contribution to the British economy
01 Nov 2006A report aimed as a discussion document on the net contribution which London makes to the UK economy.
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Long-term Investment Plan of the City of Katowice for the years 2006 - 2010
27 Feb 2006Long-term investment plan of the City of Katowice
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Long-term Investment Programme for the city of Bialystok for the years 2007-2013
28 Aug 2006The document defines priorities within planned investment ventures and describes investment processes in long-term cycles as well as sets out directions and investment scope in the city of Bialystok, including city budget abilities in the years 2007-2013.
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Making it happen: urban renaissance and prosperity in our core cities, a tale of eight cities
01 Apr 2004Looks at regeneration and urban renewal in eight of the UK's key cities, exploring where they are in terms of investment, job creation, and encouraging people back to work and live in the city.
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Management Priority Fund Businesspeople Amsterdam
05 Aug 2003The Oud-West urban district has transferred some responsibilities and budgets to residents and businesspeople, in order to make district management a shared responsibility.
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Mapping city-regions - UK
01 Feb 2006This working paper considers how England might be split up into city-regions based on labour and housing markets. It focuses on Bristol and Manchester as practical examples.
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Migrant Entrepreneurship and New Urban Economic Opportunities
14 Jul 2009Our globalizing world is increasingly showing the footprints of the high geographic mobility of people, ideas, information, capital and goods. This high degree of geographic interaction and spatial dynamics is clearly mirrored in recent high migration rates across national borders. Immigration towards large cities is indeed a contemporary and clearly visible phenomenon of growing sociodemographic importance in many countries. However, the influx of many foreign migrants is fraught with serious social tensions in various host countries caused by a wide variety of negative sociocultural and economic externalities. Hence, we witness an increasing pressure to limit foreign migration on the grounds that the absorption capacity of host countries has been reached. These negative externalities hold for both the housing market and the labour market in large agglomerations. Consequently, there is a tendency to see migrants more as a source of problems than as a source of new opportunities for the urban economy.
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Multi-annual Investment Plan for the years 2005 – 2008 for the City of Elblag
29 Dec 2005The document is an economic plan including a list of investments forecasted for the realisation in the city of Elblag in the years 2007-2013
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Multi-annual Investment Plan for the years 2005–2008 for the City of Gorzow Wielkopolski
24 Nov 2004The economic programme including a list of investments planned to be executed in the given period of time.
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New Culture-Oriented Economic Development Trajectories: The Case Study of Four Dutch Cities
16 Jul 2009Cities spend more and more in cultural programmes and large infrastructure projects, seeking competitive and sustainable growth: urban landmarks influencing the image and the attractiveness of the city for private investments, but also platforms for the “new creative class” and stimuli to social integration through self-reflection and cultural inclusion. However, there is uncertainty about the returns of such investments. Moreover, seed-funding creativity and cultural dynamism is a complex issue, as traditional institutions and policy approaches are hardly able to come to terms with fuzzy, anarchist social structures.
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New EMI Case Study on Economic Vitality of Madrid
09 May 2012As part of EMI’s Knowledge and Research Agenda ‘Economic Vitality’, EMI has published a new city case study, on the economic vitality of Madrid in Spain. Madrid is an interesting case study for EMI’s Economic Vitality Agenda given the fact that the urban economy has been strongly affected by the recent financial and economic crisis. This article gives you a preview of several challenges the EMI research team analysed.
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New York Talk Exchange uncovers global information flows
08 May 2008In an information age, telecommunications such as the Internet and the telephone bind people across space by lifting the constraints of distance. To reveal the relationships that New Yorkers have with the rest of the world, New York Talk Exchange asks: How does the city of New York connect to other cities? With which cities does New York have the strongest ties and how do these relationships shift with time? How does the rest of the world reach into the neighbourhoods of New York? The answers to these questions are visualised in multiple images and videos available on the project website.
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OECD Report: Coping with the Crisis at Local Level
15 Jul 2009The financial crisis has triggered significant problems in the real economy, leading to rising unemployment through widespread business retrenchment and company closures. Job losses are occurring across a wide spectrum of economic activity; indeed, in this current recession it is hard to identify any one sector that will be immune. Local economies can expect to experience a wide range of economic and employment stresses in the medium term, some of which are already in evidence.
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OECD Territorial Review - Newcastle in the North East, UK
15 Dec 2006This Territorial Review by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) focuses on the competitiveness of the Newcastle region. The existing economic structure is taken into account, as is the place of Newcastle in the national and international economy. The review comprehensively analyses the challenges and opportunities for Newcastle in transforming its economy to compete in the globalised world. The review gives a clear picture of the factors influencing Newcastle’s economic future, ranging from governance issues, to connectivity, to characteristics of the labour market. The Review is part of a series of territorial reviews by the OECD.
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Oslo, London & Copenhagen most expensive cities in the world
07 May 2008Costs and income in cities around the world greatly vary. In 2006, UBS last published a comparison of purchasing power around the globe. In March 2008, an updated version of this report was released. From the 2008 benchmark it becomes the world. Also Dublin is quickly moving up the list and is now even ahead of Zurich. Eurozone cities are becoming relatively more expensive too. In comparison to Hong Kong for example, Barcelona used to be similar costly in 2006. Today however, the Catalan port is 22 percent more expensive than the Chinese one. This UBS report compares 71 cities around the world on the basis of the cost of a weighted shopping basket geared to Western European consumer habits containing 122 goods and services. In that way it gives some interesting insights into the living costs and the purchasing power of the cities surveyed.
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Ostrow model of municipal management
25 Jan 2008In 1990 started the process of transforming and privatization of the companies realizing the municipal services, with the assumption that the municipal commune should not independently render the public services, but it should only organize the market of those services and take care of their proper realization.
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Peri-urban land use relationships/ Plurel-project
01 Jan 2007Development of new strategies, planning and forecasting tools that are essential for developing sustainable rural-urban land use relationships.
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Population churn in London’s 2012 hosting boroughs
11 Jan 2011The UK department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) carried out a study on population churn in five of London’s boroughs (Newham, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets and Greenwich) hosting the Olympics. The main aim of the study is to examine the social-economic impact of population turnover and the potential effects of the 2012 Olympics on these boroughs.
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Porta 22 - New Jobs Space - Barcelona, ES
05 Oct 2006Porta 22 is an innovative service of Barcelona Activa -the Local Development Agency of Barcelona- designed to offer information, training and personalised assessment about new occupations, emerging economic sectors, new cultures of work, and new employment opportunities that are generated from within the Knowledge Society. In 2004 Porta 22 received the prize Telecities “E-Citizenship for All” awarded by the Eurocities Knowledge Society Forum.
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Preferential Surcan Neighbour Programma, Surco Pueblo, Peru
23 Nov 2007To improve the tax collection the government awards neighbours who punctually pay taxes with benefits at local and regional establishments.
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Programme stimulates district and neighbourhood economy - Maastricht, the Netherlands
01 Jan 2005The 'Maastricht Neighbourhood Economy Stimulation Programme' provides a good, neighbourhood-oriented infrastructure for employers and a professional development and participation company. In this way, newly developed enterprises and strengthened existing enterprises can provide a significant stimulus for the economic dynamics of the neighbourhood.
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Property Tax and Solid Waste Management, Mirzapur
23 Nov 2007Elaboration of property maps and consequent revision of property-based tax billing has known far-reaching impact in the Mirzapur area by making possible a better urban governance and facilitating interventions in urban areas where a new system of transportation of solid waste was implemented.
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Public sector cities: trouble ahead
12 Aug 2009A large public sector has frequently been referred to as a cushion or stabiliser for local economies during the recession. Similarly, although the potential scale of public spending cuts has begun to dominate the national political debate, the subsequent impact on public sector employment has largely been ignored. The public sector, taken in its entirety, is a major employer in UK cities. Following a decade of remarkable public spending growth, the vitality of many city economies is now heavily dependent on continued high levels of government expenditure.
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Randstad Holland - Policy response analysis and key recommendations for policy action
01 Jun 2005How do governments in so called Global-Mega-City-Regions react to the changing spatial relations caused by the globalising economy? The case of the Randstad region, The Netherlands.
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Reducing income gaps and stimulating economy not contradictory
14 Feb 2012Governments can simultaneously reduce income inequality and stimulate economic growth. This is one of the main points of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in ‘Reducing income inequality while boosting economic growth. Can it be done?’, a recently published chapter from the forthcoming report ‘Economic Policy Reforms 2012. Going for Growth’. The chapter offers several concrete suggestions for policy in which the two objectives are both likely met as well as measures that will more likely result in a tradeoff between the two.
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Refugees' contribution to Europe: Netherlands
01 Jan 2004What contribution can highly educated refugees make to the labour market in the EU, and how?
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Regeneration and the recession - unlocking the money
26 Aug 2009The recession has brought an end to the long property investment boom tha thas helped revitalise many city centres and run down urban areas in the UK over the past decade. The boom was fuelled by cheap credit, a bubble in the property market and large increases in public spending. Property development and regeneration over the next ten years is expected to be very different, and cities will need to step up and play a bigger role in regeneration. In order to do this, greater devolution of decision making and financial powers will be needed so that cities have the flexibility to raise, pool, and decide how to spend resources locally.
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Resurgent European cities?
01 Sep 2006Research findings which look at evidence from across Europe to assess whether the fortunes of cities have improved, both in relation to their past and also relative to smaller urban and rural areas.
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Reviving the City of Aspiration
17 Feb 2009New York City has long been a place of upward mobility. Over the years, many people have come to the city in pursuit of a better future. The city used to be able to move people up the social ladder. However, in recent years, the city proved to have become less able to retain and create a substantial middle class.The report 'Reviving the City of Aspiration', published by the Center for an Urban Future, explores the main challenges facing New York City's middle class.It finds that the most important reasons why people are leaving the city and relocating elsewhere are high costs of living, a local economy unable to pay middle-income wages, a failing mass transit system and a diminishing quality of life. Apart from drawing some important conclusions, the report however also provides recommendations to retain and grow a middle class in New York City.
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Roles and economic potential of English medium-sized cities
10 Oct 2006A discussion paper which considers how differences in the economic role and performance of medium-sized cities in England might be explained.
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Rotterdam: the art of the informal economy
31 May 2005In the "normal" economy the principle of "only the sun rises for nothing" applies. But in the informal economy, products can be mutually exchanged without money changing hands, as in art and culture, for example. The Art of the Informal Economy portrays this informal economy and provides a stage for it.
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Search and the City
14 Jun 2002Can increasing returns to scale in search explain regional differentiationbetween cities and rural areas? To answer this question, the researchers developa model of an economy that consists of several regions.
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Second tier cities in Europe: why invest beyond the capital cities in an age of austerity?
27 May 2013An international study led by the European Institute for Urban Affairs at Liverpool John Moores University and funded by the European Commission and ESPON provides new evidence about the economic performance of 124 second tier and 31 capital cities across Europe. Second tiers are the non-capitals whose performance matters most to the national economy. Capital and second tier cities combined constitute 56% of Europe’s total GDP. Second tiers contribute 33% and capitals 23 % of the total.
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SPP2: Economic Development
01 Apr 2008This SPP replaces NPPG 2 Business and Industry published in September 1993. Its title has been changed and its scope expanded to reflect the significant contribution from non-manufacturing sectors.
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SPP8: Town Centres and Retailing
01 Apr 2008SPP 8 sets out the Executive's policy for town centres and the key uses, particularly retailing, which contribute to their economic growth and enhancement. It replaces NPPG 8 Town Centres and Retailing, published October 1998.
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Study on Urban Functions - ESPON Study 1.4.3
31 May 2006The “Study on Urban Functions” is a critical review of the ESPON 1.1.1 final report “Urban areas as nodes in a polycentric development”.
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Supporting the Informal Sector in Low-Income Settlements
09 Mar 2007Incorporating the Informal Sector for Low-Income housing and Local Economic Development
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The Business of Culture: the impact of the European Capital of Culture designation on businesses
14 May 2008The Impacts 08 - European Capital of Culture Research Programme combines established and innovative methodologies. It assesses the cultural, social, economic and environmental dimensions of Liverpool's regeneration in the lead to, during and in the aftermath of becoming the 2008 European Capital of Culture.
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The Economic Map of Urban Europe
11 Oct 2006This publication provides a comparative overview of the economies of a number of European metropolises, and particularly on how Helsinki compares with other European metropolises with respect to size, economic structure and economic performance. Of particular interest is the role of the metropolises, including Helsinki, in generating economic growth in their respective home countries, and their impact on Europe as a whole.
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The Economic Value of Cultural Diversity
29 Nov 2007The researchers use data on wages and rents in different U.S. cities to assess the amenity effects on production and consumption of cultural diversity as measured by diversity of countries of birth of city residents.
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The economies of deprived neighbourhoods - UK
30 Jun 2006The United Kingdom (UK) Department for Communities and Local Government has reviewed three recent research studies exploring the economies of deprived neighbourhoods. The studies analyse the overall economic dynamics of deprived neighbourhoods, worklessness in deprived neighbourhoods and the role of informal economic activity in such urban areas. Even though the focus of the study is on deprived neighbourhoods in the UK, it offers valuable insights to all policy makers. The economic, social and territorial relations that determine the enduring existence of concentrated poverty can be found in almost any European city.
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The entrepreneurial advantage of world cities
29 Aug 2008Recent discussions in the economic geography literature increasingly focus on creative cities and the importance of creativity for achieving economic growth. Considering the increased attention on urban areas it is not surprising that the regional dimension of entrepreneurship is a subject of great interest. In this paper 'the entrepreneurial advantage of cities', a framework is set out encompassing the individual process between entrepreneurial perceptions and entrepreneurial activity and demonstrate how the urban environment can have an impact on this process.
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The European Economic Recovery Plan in Regions and Cities: One Year On
18 Jan 2010With the adoption of the European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP) in December 2008, the European Union and its Member States aimed to provide coordinated action to counteract the effects of the crisis.
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The European Learning Network - enterprise and innovation in deprived urban areas
28 Feb 2007In the European Learning Network (LNet) five partner cities – Amsterdam,Hamburg, London, Milan and Prague – share experience on how to promote enterprise in deprived neighbourhoods. Aim of the network is to develop common approaches to realising the economic and social potential of deprived urban areas and to build practical tools to promote enterprise such as toolkits and how-to guides. LNet focused on business support, investment, skills and knowledge, and effective governance structures. The LNet project is a bottom-up initiative of five cities. It has resulted in more contact between the projects participants on encouraging entrepreneurship in deprived neighbourhoods. When analysing best practices, there was a clear focus on transferability. The documentation of the best practices could be improved, however. The 35 cases presented in the LNet Manual could have provided more background information on the initiatives, for example contact information. This constitutes a potential barrier to sharing knowledge with cities outside the network.
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The Image of the City
30 Apr 2006Urban branding still remains a rather unexplored and neglected aspect of urban transformation processes. Yet very little research has been conducted on how cities brand themselves.
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The impact of demographic change on local and regional government
01 May 2006All European countries are facing challenges from demographic change. These fundamental developments have complex consequences for local and regional authorities. They influence nearly every sphere of life: labour markets, housingmarkets, social security systems, infrastructure, urban/spatial planning, education, budgets and finances. The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) mapped the impact of ageing in four European countries and the policy responses of local authorities.
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The role of city-regions in regional economic development policy
01 Feb 2006A working paper which considers the appropriate geographical scale at which to conduct effective regional economic policymaking, focusing on the importance of the city-region.
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The state of American cities – DCLG report
29 Nov 2006The report 'The state of American cities' explores the current trends and drivers of change in US cities. It tells the story of the 'rebirth' of American cities over the last decade. The report draws valuable for lessons for cities outside of the US based upon the American experiences. The report argues that whilst the US and England are marked by significant cultural and political differences in their views on cities, the two nations are undergoing similar economic and demographic transitions that pave the way for a useful comparative policy dialogue on urban areas. It is part of the UK Department for Communities and Local Government’s (DCLG) 'State of the English Cities' research series.
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The State of Metropolitan America
27 Jul 2010The State of Metropolitan America is an effort of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program that portrays the demographic and social trends shaping the nation’s essential economic and societal units—its large metropolitan areas—and discusses what they imply for public policies to secure prosperity for these places and their populations. This report focuses on the major demographic forces transforming the United States and large metropolitan areas in the 2000s (2000-2009). In this sense, it previews what the American population will learn from the results of the 2010 Census. It includes chapters that correspond to nine of the most important subjects tracked by the Census Bureau in its annual American Community Survey, along with the policy implications of the findings. The State of Metropolitan America uses data from these subject areas to show that The United States faces five 'new realities', currently redefining the country. In each of these five areas, America reached critical milestones in the 2000s that make those underlying realities too large to ignore any longer. And large metropolitan areas—the collections of cities, suburbs, and rural areas that house two-thirds of America’s population—lay squarely on the front lines of those trends. The report also introduces an emerging metropolitan typology, containing seven distinct categories. These new classifications are based upon metrics of population growth, diversity, and educational attainment as compared to national averages.
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The Urban Growth Potential of Second-Generation Migrant Entrepreneurs
14 Jul 2009The present paper aims to study the shift in migrant entrepreneurship towards promising and modern urban economic sectors. As an example, the authors take the involvement of migrant entrepreneurs in the ICT and the FIRE sectors in the city of Amsterdam.
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Thriving local communities: mapping sub regions
05 Jul 2007The study presents the findings of research which produced a series of sub-regional maps for England showing labour market and commuting flows, migration and markets for goods and services.
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Toolkit for cross-cultural cooperation in cities
01 Jan 2006This study proposes to replace the ‘multiculturalism’ approach in urban policy making with an approach that is focused on ‘interculturalism’. Cities need to facilitate dialogue, exchange and reciprocal understanding between people of different backgrounds to remain competitive on the global stage. The study identifies strategies to help cities unlock the potential of their economic ‘diversity advantage’. The intercultural approach seems to hold potential. The concept of diversity advantage helps to identify the potential economic benefits of diversity. The authors should be weary, however, not to promote ‘interculturalism’ as a panacea in urban policy making.
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Toronto must be more competitive, says OECD
13 Nov 2009Toronto is home to 40% of Canada’s business headquarters, the world’s seventh largest stock exchange, and it produces almost 20% of the national GDP. Toronto is also home to some 5 million people, half of them immigrants, making it one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the OECD. By comparison, in New York and London, about 28% of residents are foreign-born. With more than 100 ethnic groups, Toronto’s large pool of language and cultural skills are a major asset and a factor boosting its competitiveness.
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Tracking economic deprivation in New Deal for Communities areas
02 Feb 2010This report is an in-depth study of economic deprivation in the New Deal for Communities (NDC) areas. The analyses consider overall NDC area change and within-NDC area change. This report seeks to measure change in levels of economic deprivation in NDC areas, but it does not explore the mechanisms underlying the changes observed. Thus the findings presented here should be contextualised by other qualitative and case study work for example the recent paper Tackling Worklessness in NDC areas – a policy and practice update.
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Training Manual on Urban Local Government Finance for Countries for South Asian Countries
29 Jan 2008Readings and case studies in urban finance for South Asian Countries.
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UK National Audit Office Report: How European cities achieve renaissance
30 Oct 2007Urban renewal is an important point on the agenda of most European regions and cities. Because manufacturing and older industries decline, new ways of attracting capital have to be found. The renewal and adjustment of social, physical and environmental infrastructure is seen as a succesful way to revitalise regions, cities, districts and neighbourhoods. The 'How European cities achieve renaissance' publication of the UK National Audit Office, looks at seven European cities or regions and how they were able to deliver succesful regeneration projects. It provides interesting material for all people involved in urban regeneration projects.
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URBACT Cities facing the crisis: final publication now available
05 Jan 2011In December 2010 URBACT has published the final report on the impact of the economic crisis on its partner cities. The survey addresses cities’ responses and actions developed by URBACT cities. Also, the publication presents a series of in-depth case studies and describes the main lessons learned from these practices.
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Urban finance and local governance in Sub-Saharan Africa
28 Jan 2008An insightful report of the regional colloquium of African professionals held in Burkina Faso in April 1999, dealing with the challenges and opportunities after the Habitat II conference.
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Urban Programme II Aarhus, Denmark
31 Dec 2007Citizen involvement and engagement in neighbourhood regeneration activities.
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Vulnerability and resilience in Leeds, Brighton & Bristol
09 Jan 2009Following a decade and a half of constant expansion, the UK is now facing a deep and potentially prolonged recession. The UK’s cities, which were the drivers of economic growth, now face a period of economic contraction and rising unemployment. This report analyses the impact the recession will have on three UK city sectors – financial and related business services in Leeds, Brighton’s retail and leisure industry and Bristol’s manufacturing sector- and examines the potential for job losses and the prospects for recovery.
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Waterfront Redevelopment and Urban Revitalization in the Changing Industrial Port City
27 Feb 2008Which role in the postindustrial city plays the areas that used to be an economic and cultural "gateway", a place where many flows crossed each other and that reflected the social processes and ideals of the industrial society?
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Weaving the future with threads from the past - Portugal
17 Oct 2007The town of Covilhã, situated in the mountain region of Beira (Serra das Estrellas, Portugal), was specialising in wool production as far back as the12th century. It is only natural, then, that the town, its university and its wool museum should be at the heart of the transnational pilot project Arqueotex, whose principal objective is to set up a European information network on the Old World’s textile industry heritage.
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What do We Know about Social Entrepreneurship: an Analysis of Empirical Research
17 Sep 2009Despite the growing attention for social entrepreneurship no consensus exists on what it is or what it is not. It is a multi-interpretable concept and although the use of the label is widespread, the meaning attached to it often varies. Not surprisingly, a considerable amount of scholarly effort is devoted to defining what social entrepreneurship is and what the commonalities and distinctions are with closely related fields such as commercial entrepreneurship.
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York: Prioritising Prosperity
10 Mar 2009The City of York wants to develop as a ‘Thriving City’, taking advantage of the policy opportunities that exist in the "http://www.communities.gov.uk/citiesandregions/thesubnationalreview/">Sub-NationalReview</a>.