City Growth Commission in George Osborne's speech

The RSA's work with the City Growth Commission continues to have an influence. In fighting for “a share in the global economy”, the UK Chancellor George Osborne said in his recent speech in Manchester that we “need to bring the cities of the north together as a team – that’s how Britain will beat the rest.” In the face of this global trend and of increasing international competition, the City Growth Commission is investigating what is needed to enable UK cities to thrive.

Led by renowned economist Jim O’Neill, the City Growth Commission will ask how we can achieve complementary growth between London and other UK cities; what fiscal powers and governance arrangements are needed to deliver this; and how public service reform can start to make cities more fiscally sustainable. In assessing these issues, the Commission will focus on skills, infrastructure and devolution of fiscal and policy-making powers.

Having launched in October 2013 with a call for evidence, the Commission will seek to influence all political parties in the run up to the next General Election, and make the case for cities to take a new role in our political economy.  Our recommendations will set out a road map for change.

The Commission will focus on local labour markets, skills and investment, issues of critical importance to the future of our economy. The ultimate objective of the Commission is to lay the foundations for a significant power shift away from the centre and towards cities, and to show the next Government, of whichever party, why this is needed and how it can be achieved.

Our work focusses on UK cities and growth within the context of the global economy.  We draw on the expertise of international evidence and Commissioners based overseas, including Bruce Katz at the Brookings Institution and Greg Clark at the OECD.  If you have any feedback on how cities abroad meet challenges of growth and public service reform please email us at [email protected].  

Join us at upcoming events 

The Commission’s interim findings will be published in a range of research publications. On Thursday 3 July 2014, the Commission will be publishing ‘Human Capitals – Driving UK metro growth through workforce investment’, followed by ‘Connected Cities – The link to growth’ on Wednesday 16 July.

Please book your place online if you are interested in joining these events. 

Information on future research and events can be found at www.citygrowthcommission.com. You can also follow the work of the City Growth Commission on Twitter @CityGrowthCom.