how is regional policy made: a critical look at the role of think tanks? professor peter wells...
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How is Regional Policy Made: A Critical Look at the Role of
Think Tanks?
Professor Peter WellsSheffield Hallam University
CURDS/ONE North East Regional Insights SeminarUniversity of Newcastle
5 November, 2008
Overview Think Tanks in the UK Rise of Think Tank regional policy activity Assessing Think Tanks Role in Regional
Policy Conclusions
What is a think tank?
Essentially, think tanks seek to bridge the gap between knowledge and power … The role of think tanks is to link the two roles, that of policymaker and academic, by conducting in-depth analysis of certain issues and presenting this research in easy-to-read, condensed form for policy makers to absorb (McGann and Johnson 2005, p. 12).
Think Tanks in the United Kingdom Wide definition: over
100 organisations spanning public policy,
health policy, strategic/international relations and religion, and including political networks and forums
Narrow definition of active public policy research institutes: ~ 30 organisations
Centre-Left Centre/
Liberal
Centre-Right and Right
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)
Fabian Society
The Smith Institute
New Local Government Network
Reform Policy Exchange
Adam Smith Institute
Institute for Economic Affairs
Independent, but politically engaged
Social Market Foundation
New Economics Foundation
Work Foundation
Demos
Rise of Think Tank activity and output on regional policy Over 50 reports, pamphlets and working papers published since
2002: Work Foundation: 22 reports
Including 15 Ideopolis City Region Reports and 4 working papers IPPR/IPPR North: 14 reports
Including ones on Devolution, and Social Capital in the North East The Smith Institute 9 reports and pamphlets NLGN: 4 reports Policy Exchange: 3 reports
The Cities (un)limited series SMF: 2 reports Reform: 1 report NEF, Fabian Society, Demos, ASI and IEA: 0 reports.
A Typology of Think Tank Outputs
1. Agenda setting research IPPR: A New Regional Policy for the UK (2003) Policy Exchange: Cities (un)Limited (2007/8)
2. Position Papers Reform: Whitehall’s Last Colonies SMF: Economic Nationalism or Progressive Globalisation?
3. Agenda Reinforcing Smith Institute: various edited volumes and pamphlets
4. Policy Development Programmes IPPR North: Northern Economic Agenda Project Work Foundation: Ideopolis: Knowledge City-Regions
Conceptual Coherence of Think Tank Outputs Review focused on:
Anatomy of the Regional Problem Timing Issues considered Evidence Policy recommendations
Reports considered IPPR (2003) A New Regional Policy for the UK Work Foundation (2006) Ideopolis: Knowledge City-
Regions Policy Exchange (2007/8) Cities (un)limited reports
IPPR (2004): A New Regional Policy for the UK? Anatomy of the regional problem: weak employment, output and
productivity
IPPR (2004): A New Regional Policy for the UK? Timing: influence of 2004 Spending Review, issues picked up through Northern
Economic Agenda Project Issues covered:
The Scale of the Challenge Employment and regional policy The regional skills, education and training agenda Science, innovation and the regions Enterprise policy Public spending and investment Governance issues A modern regional economic policy
Evidence: top-down regional statistics (GVA, employment, skills etc) with wide ranging literature review
Policy recommendations: Territorial justice: proactive national regional policy required to reduce disparities Cross-cutting and multi-level government action required Progressive devolution of powers
Work Foundation (2006): Ideopolis: Knowledge City-Regions Anatomy of the regional problem: lack of knowledge intensive
businesses and employees
Work Foundation (2006): Ideopolis: Knowledge City-Regions Timing: ongoing research projects conducted in sponsoring cities Issues covered:
Knowledge matters for success in globalisation and for national competitiveness, but of more importance is endogenous growth theory and that this permeates HMT positions on skills, innovation and enterprise
Increasing the volume of knowledge intensive activity is essential if developed economies are to remain prosperous
Knowledge intensity drives productivity growth Cities matter to business in the knowledge economy: they are places that offer
organisations access to highly skilled workers, affluent consumers and the opportunity to innovate and exchange ideas
Evidence: selective review of literature and strong use of economic development theories
(NEG, EGT, agglomeration economies) use of composite indicators (e.g. tipping points for knowledge intensive
occupations) Lesson drawing from success stories of cities achieving a ‘critical mass’
Policy recommendations: Broad definition of innovation (not just science and technology) Joined-up action and local control over key domains (planning, transport) Engage with universities as ‘key players’ Leadership at regional and local level matters
Policy Exchange (2007/8): Cities (un)limited reports Anatomy of the regional problem: failure of urban policy to follow the
market (labour/migration and capital)
Policy Exchange (2007/8): Cities (un)limited reports Timing: three reports over 2007/08 (analysis of problem, review of practice and policy
recommendations) Issues covered:
Starting point: persistent economic disparities between select towns and cities Focus: critique and ‘macro evaluation’ of UK urban policy Rationale/theory: (new) location theory of neo-classical economics, institutional
analysis, agglomeration and firm location. Urban policy intervention leads to sub-optimal outcomes.
Evidence: Derived from a literature review with theoretical and methodological assumptions
drawn out Evaluation considers a set of urban areas using limited data Focus on urban/neighbourhood policies. Selective lesson drawing
Policy recommendations: Expand London and select South East/East Anglia locations (Oxford, Cambridge
… and Swindon). Focus on growth locations in the north (Leeds) Localise funding allocated previously to national programmes and give more
power to elected members whilst increasing local accountability ‘Manage’ decline in the north A hidden agenda? reduce public spending through fiscal decentralisation
Conclusions Political Dividing Line:
Territorial Justice through a proactive regional policy vs
Territorial Selection based on recent growth and deregulated planning Audience
National government and national party politics – dominant (national) institutional structures matter
Almost silent on EU Regional Policy, technological change and globalisation
Documentary analysis – only a starting point Evaluating rationale and coherence… but Unclear how used by policy actors Cannot comment on other forms of think tank activity (workshops,
informal networks etc) Reports as organising narratives?
Except for the Ideopolis reports, they did not construct heuristic devices Limited use of rhetorical imperatives
How is Regional Policy Made: A Critical Look at the Role of
Think Tanks?
Peter WellsSheffield Hallam University
CURDS/ONE North East Regional Insights SeminarUniversity of Newcastle
5 November, 2008
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