Regional policies in an era of slow population growth and higher unemployment

Chisholm M. (1976) Regional policies in an era of slow population growth and higher unemployment, Reg. Studies 10, 201–213. Regional economic policy as implemented in Britain mainly evolved during the 1950s and 1960s, decades of relatively full employment which succeeded the full-employment period of the last war. Employment conditions have changed dramatically for the worse in recent years. At the same time, the rate of population growth has fallen sharply and conditions affecting the mechanism generating inflation have changed. The paper reviews the appropriateness of existing policies for the conditions of the 1960s—leading to a sceptical conclusion—and proceeds to an examination of the implications of the changed circumstances noted above. The thesis is is advanced that the purpose of regional policy needs to be re-thought in the light of changed conditions. The rudiments of a new approach, emphasizing long-term flexibility, are outlined in the concluding sections.