The geography of the urban crisis: Some evidence from Glasgow

Large parts of urban Britain have been adversely affected by a combination of global economic restructuring and ineffective urban policies. In older industrial cities, like Glasgow, the outcome of uneven development is manifested in the poverty, powerlessness and polarisation of disadvantaged residents. This paper analyses the capital investment decisions of major public and private agencies, as well as data from the 1991 census, to assess the impact of efforts to resolve the urban crisis in Glasgow. It is concluded that despite clear evidence on the nature and incidence of the problem in 1981, the position of the majority of the disadvantaged showed little improvement by 1991. The efficacy of current urban policy is considered and alternative strategies for alleviating the urban crisis discussed.