Members of the Liverpool City Region APPG
A researcher from the University’s Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place presented at the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Liverpool City Region last week (Wednesday 9 October).
The session focussed on the productivity challenge in the Liverpool City Region (LCR). Dr Tom Arnold presented members with evidence from research on regional productivity being carried out by the Heseltine Institute as part of an ongoing project with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Dr Arnold highlighted the reasons for the productivity gap between the Liverpool City Region and similar sized European cities such as Lyon, Marseille and Valencia. These include issues common across English city regions such as low levels of investment, and other city region specific issues such as poor-quality housing and lower levels of educational attainment than the national average.
Currently the gap in productivity between the LCR and the UK national average stands at 14 per cent, a gap which has widened over the past 15 years.
Dr Arnold set out suggestions for the policy response to the productivity gap which could be incorporated into the Local Growth Plan currently being developed by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, with a particular focus on long-term and comprehensive strategies for economic development and collaboration between the public, private and voluntary sectors. His presentation also highlighted the importance of consistency in policymaking at the national level in areas such as infrastructure planning.
The Heseltine Institute is an interdisciplinary public policy research institute which brings together academic expertise from across the University of Liverpool with policymakers and practitioners to support the development of sustainable and inclusive cities and city regions.
The Institute is the academic partner for the Liverpool City Region APPG which aims to provide a strong voice for the city region in Westminster. It produces regular research briefings for the group, which includes parliamentarians from across the political spectrum based in the region.
Dr Tom Arnold said: “I was really pleased to present to MPs at the first meeting of the Liverpool City Region APPG of the new parliament.
“Addressing the productivity gap is crucial for improving living standards for people across the LCR as low productivity leads to low wages and a reduced standard of living. The research that we in the Heseltine Institute are carrying out with the LCR Combined Authority and our work with the Liverpool City Region APPG is aimed at tackling the many complex issues leading to low productivity.
“I look forward to continuing to support the Liverpool City Region APPG in its work in addressing key policy challenges in the coming months.”