Suchergebnisse

In this second of two papers on rethinking British regional policy for the 1980s a number of policy options and suggested reforms around which a new agenda might be constructed are put forward for debate. Following on from the critique of current policy and the discussion of changed economic conditions given in the first paper, a range of key issues are examined, starting from the case for and objectives of future regional policy, through problems of job generation and the need for a new institutional framework, to more detailed proposals concerning the forms of regional assistance.

In this first of two papers on rethinking British regional policy for the 1980s it is argued that British regional policy as conventionally practiced has now reached a state of crisis. Policies and programmes conceived and enacted under the circumstances of prior decades no longer match the special needs and problems created by changed conditions, and are wholly inadequate to deal with the difficulties currently facing the space economy and which seem likely to persist well into the present decade. A major recasting of regional policy is urgently required, together with a refocusing of policy priorities and objectives. The detailed discussion of specific policy options is the subject of a subsequent paper.