Research Policy Network (RPNs)

Spatial Disparities and Policy

Project lead

Helen Simpson

Professor of Economics University Of Bristol

Spatial disparities in income and productivity are a feature of many countries. They arise in low-income countries during the process of economic development and in high income countries that are experiencing, or have experienced, structural change. They are often persistent, lasting for many decades with consequent social and political implications. Economic adjustment mechanisms have failed to bring about convergence and policy interventions have often been unsuccessful.

The network will support research to deepen our understanding of the causes and consequences of spatial disparities in income and productivity, while addressing two over-arching questions. How can spatial disparities persist for long periods of time, even in relatively well integrated modern economies? What policy measures are effective in addressing the disparities and their adverse consequences?

Leadership of the RPN is supported by a Steering Committee:- Gilles Duranton (Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania), Gianmarco Ottaviano (Bocconi University), Henry Overman (London School of Economics), Helen Simpson (University of Bristol), Jens Suedekum (Henrich Heine University Düsseldorf) and Elisabet Viladecans-Marsal (University of Barcelona).

Steering Committee

Gilles Duranton

Professor and Dean's chair in real estate The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Gianmarco Ottaviano

Professor of Economics, Achille and Giulia Boroli Chair in European Studies and Co-Director of the Globalization and Industry Dynamics Research Unit at Baffi Carefin Bocconi University

Henry Overman

Professor of Economic Geography London School Of Economics And Political Science

Jens Südekum

Professor of International Economics at the Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf

Anthony Venables

Research Director The Producitivity Institute; Professor of Economics University Of Manchester

Elisabet Viladecans-Marsal

Professor at the Department of Economics and Researcher for the IEB University Of Barcelona

Members

Marius Brülhart

Professor of Economics HEC Lausanne

Pierre-Philippe Combes

CNRS Professor Sciences Po Paris University

Diane Coyle

RPN Member, Spatial Disparities and Policy

Swati Dhingra

Associate Professor, Department of Economics London School Of Economics And Political Science

Maximilian Von Ehrlich

RPN Member, Spatial Disparities and Policy

Cécile Gaubert

Assistant Professor of Economics University Of California, Berkeley

Edward Glaeser

Professor of Economics Harvard University

Ines Helm

Associate Professor in Economics Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich (LMU)

Camille Hémet

Full professor of Economics Paris School of Economics (PSE); Full Professor of Economics University of Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne

Paul Krugman

Philippe Martin

Vice President, Europe Centre for Economic Policy Research; Professor of Economics and Dean School of Public Affairs Sciences Po Paris University

Philip McCann

Professor of Urban and Regional Economics, Management School University Of Sheffield

RPN Member, Spatial Disparities and Policy

Sandra McNally

Director of Education and Skills Programme, Centre for Economic Performance London School Of Economics And Political Science; Professor of Economics University of Surrey

RPN Member, Spatial Disparities and Policy