Governing the mega-region: governance and networks across London and the South East of England

The argument is that London and the South East is an economic 'mega-region', larger than any existing administrative region in England. Drawing on research in South East Asia, the hypothesis is that this mega-region, while itself encapsulating a range of political and territorial tensions, should hold an intrinsic position of power in national policy making. While core central-state institutions, including HM Treasury, the Department for Trade and Industry and the Bank of England, do not explicitly prioritise the mega-regional economy, their concern for national economic compititiveness may mean that fiscal, interest rate and competition policies are attentive to the economic priorities of London and the South East. The proposotion that a prosperous London and South East economy is a necessary prerequisite for a viable national economy is an idea that remains influencial in central government circles. Indeed, the lack of a strong and coordinated voice that can articulate a regional perspictive for London and the South East serves paradoxically to inhance the perceived importance of this part of the economy in national policy development. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group Ltd.