As part of the City Evolutions research, we have selected five different cities for an in-depth exploration of the role of institutional arrangements and policy initiatives in dealing with economic change over the past 5 decades, including Birmingham.

Economic change has been profound in Birmingham in the decades since the 1960s, with rapid deindustrialisation in the 1970s and early 1980s associated with the decline of the motor vehicle industry, followed by a reorientation towards services. Birmingham today is a much more diversified city.

The workshop will present the main findings of the data analysis for Birmingham so far, and explore what the role of institutions and policy has been in dealing with economic change. The discussion will then address the following questions:

• What have been the main institutional arrangements and policy initiatives with regard to the economic development of Birmingham since the 1970s?
• What role have these arrangements and initiatives played in shaping the economic evolution of Birmingham?
• Are there more general lessons concerning institutions and policy for cities coping with and adapting to economic change?

The workshop will take place on 13 June from 10am until 1pm in Birmingham city centre.  If you are interested in attending, or want to find out more about the project, please contact Rita Beden on rsvp@centreforcities.org.