EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Cities need to be more realistic about their role in the global system

Cities need to be more realistic about their role in the global system

Introduction

Not all urban areas gain from globalisation. According to a recent report by the UK-based 'Centre for Cities', there are winners and losers in today's global economy. The report therefore states that cities need to be more realistic about their role in the global system. "Not every city can aspire to London's global city status", it claims. The 'Centre for Cities' calls for national, regional and local policies that support those cities who may lose out in the transition to a more competitive economy. Policy should have a longer-term focus aimed at for example sustainable job creation, skills development and innovative business.

Description

According to the Centre for Cities report 'UK Cities in the Global Economy', cities should increasingly focus on the following policy choices:

Collaborate with neighbouring areas more and promote city-regional brands, such as Greater Manchester;
Prioritise connections to their key markets to play more effective roles as regional growth hubs;
Base strategic decisions to support business and ‘back winners’ on a realistic assessment of local strengths and assets, avoiding unrealistic aspirational goals;
Work through the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) network to encourage trade and investment, highlighting support for companies taking their first steps to export and ensuring the local business environment attracts inward investors in key growing sectors;
Cities need more powers to actively support individuals that are adversely affected by offshoring and inward migration, and help them to develop their skills and adapt to the global labour market.
Cities need to do more to attract the high skilled labour that local economies need to compete in growing industries.

Conclusions

According to the Centre for Cities report, global change means that cities and city-regions will become ever more important as engines of growth in a more competitive environment. However, the experience of different cities, and of the individuals within them, will vary. Some cities will be more important than others in the global economy, and while the UK as a whole will benefit, some cities face significant costs from industrial decline as they adjust to globalisation.

The report states that while globalisation will benefit the UK as a whole, Government and city policymakers need to be more realistic about the relative winners and losers. The Centre for Cities says it is time for Government, cities and businesses to acknowledge the relative impact of globalisation on different cities and individuals – and develop responses that support both city economies and the people within them through the process of economic change.

Contact info

Centre for Cities
London
Phone: +44 (0)20 7803 4300
Fax: +44 (0)20 7803 4301
info@centreforcities.org

Publication date

/09/2008

Researcher

Hannah Brown

Links

For more information, please visit the Centre for Cities website

Download the report 'UK Cities in the Global Economy' (PDF, Eng, 6.21 MB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy

Keywords

Economy knowledge & employment