Public policy for addressing the low-skills low-wage trap: insights from business cases in the Birmingham city-region, UK

Anne Green*, Paul Sissons, Kevin Broughton, Amir Qamar

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

The idea that some local areas are characterised by a low-skills equilibrium trap is prominent in academic and policy debates in the Global North. Factors shaping this position and associated implications for local economic development are only partially understood. This article provides new evidence examining employers’ decision-making around investment and workforce management in the hospitality and retail sectors in the Birmingham city-region, UK, and their experience of the low-skills low-wage trap. The findings highlight intersecting sectoral and place-based factors in the emergence of, and barriers to escape from, this position. Responses require policy actions at firm, local and national level.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)333-344
Number of pages12
JournalRegional Studies
Volume55
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Aug 2020

Keywords

  • skills
  • wages
  • Economic performance
  • business models
  • low-wage low-skills trap
  • Institutional theory

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