What policies can level up economic performance?
Improving economic performance outside London and the South East is a core aim of the government\u2019s levelling up agenda. Drawing on past IfG research, this event explored what policies, and policy approaches, would best support economic performance outside London and the South East and compare these with the government\u2019s current policies. Our panel discussed:\n\nWhat policies would be most effective to achieve the government\u2019s productivity mission and what should the government prioritise? What will the Sunak government do differently to the Johnson government and where can it make improvements? Are there lessons from the way other countries have attempted to level up? And how important are the economic aspects of levelling up, as opposed to other missions to increase pride in place and wellbeing?\n\nTo explore these questions, the IfG brought together an expert panel including:\n\nAdam Hawksbee, Deputy Director at Onward\nRuth Kelly, Chief Analyst at the National Audit Office\nThomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government\nProfessor Bart Van Ark, Professor of Productivity Studies at the Alliance Manchester Business School, and Managing Director of The Productivity Institute at The University of Manchester\n\nThe event was chaired by Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.