As per the reports published by leading think tanks, in a league table ranking the levels of investment in mature economies, the north of England would rank second to last.
In a ranking of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries amassed by the northern branch of the influential Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), Greece is ranked as having lower levels of public and private investments.
The research, which attempts to place the situation in the North in a global context, will be unveiled at the annual convention of political, civic, and commercial leaders, the Convention of the North, which begins on Wednesday in Manchester.
According to Marcus Johns’ research, the United Kingdom is in the news for all the wrong reasons.
“Of all the advanced economies around the world, ours is the most regionally divided and getting worse—the north is at the sharp end of these divides, and that’s a barrier to prosperity.” But what’s even more unacceptable is that our country is divided by design. “It is the result of decisions.”
Researchers have compiled reports on all 38 OECD countries based on their public and private investments.
Ireland tops the order, closely followed by South Korea, Turkey, and Estonia. The UK comes in at number 35, followed by Costa Rica (36), Luxembourg (37), and an imaginary nation in the north of England (38). Greece, which is currently recuperating from the effects of a national financial crisis, is at the bottom.
The paper attempts to quantify the scope of inequalities in the UK. It claims, for instance, that production in the north of England is roughly £7 lower per hour of labor than in the rest of the country. £1.60 less is paid per hour.
A detailed case study carried out by the researchers on places across the globe that have successfully strengthened their economies reveals lessons regarding the steps and measures taken for the same.
According to the studies, Ibaraki, Japan, has productivity per worker that is 61% greater than the north of England. Leipzig is the fastest-growing city in Europe. Bilbao has had a successful rehabilitation since the inauguration of the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim in 1998.
The director of IPPR North, Zoë Billingham, stated that the evidence at the international level revealed that the leveling up came from governments relinquishing power and collaborating positively with other places. She advises political leaders to “zoom out” and take notes. “Our leaders need to think big and look beyond our borders for inspiration.”
At the conference on Wednesday, there will also be a call for leveling up to be “hardwired” into UK legislation to guarantee that disparities in living standards—including those related to skills, earnings, and life expectancy—can be closed between areas.
The initiative was inspired by Germany, whose constitution ensures that all regions have comparable living conditions and effective political leadership.
A video presentation to the conference will be made by Carsten Schneider, the minister for east Germany, and comparable living conditions. It was included in the constitution, he claimed, for excellent reasons. “If regions are drifting apart, it is bad for everyone, including the growing regions,” he stated. “If a variety of regions flourish, the whole country will prosper.”
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, claimed that the German experience demonstrated what was possible.
“East Germany has seen long-term support and investment since the fall of communism—and it has worked.” “Cities in eastern Germany are now powering ahead of cities here in the north.”
“Our own history has shown us that, too often, the north struggles to get to the top of the government’s to-do list, whichever political party is in charge.” “That’s why we need to hardwire leveling up into UK law and unlock the potential of the north to help the whole country thrive.”
The convention takes place one week after claims of favoritism against Conservative seats arose in connection with the government’s second round of financial leveling.
In Manchester, delegates will hear from Leveling Up Secretary Michael Gove and his opponent, Lisa Nandy.
- Published By Team Timeswire