Cambridge Business Association
A Century of Cities
Report

A Century of Cities

Urban Economic Change Since 1911

Paul Swinney and Elli Thomas
Centre for Cities, 2015
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Editorial Rating

8

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Paul Swinney and Elli Thomas of the UK-based research and policy institute Center for Cities explore the changing world of work in major cities across the UK since 1911. They highlight the gap between the northern and southern regions of the country, and explore reasons why the South is faring better than the North in the job market. This well-researched report traces the history of several cities, discusses changes in the nature of work and suggests measures the UK government can adopt in order to bridge the gap between the two regions. getAbstract recommends its findings to economists, policy makers and industrialists.

Summary

For a city to fuel its growth in the 21st century, proximity to knowledge has become more important than proximity to resources. Cities that have reinvented their economies by supporting knowledge-based industries are thriving, whereas cities that have only been replacing traditional work with low-skilled jobs have been unable to support growth. As a result, a phenomenon known as the “North-South divide” has emerged in the UK.

Savvy industries value being closer to knowledge over proximity to resources such as ports, fuel sources and a labor pool...

About the Authors

Paul Swinney is a senior economist and Elli Thomas is a researcher at Center for Cities, a UK-based research and policy institute dedicated to improving the economic success of cities in the UK.

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