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Evaluating Spatial Policies

Author

Listed:
  • Steve Gibbons
  • Max Nathan
  • Henry G. Overman

Abstract

In most countries economic prosperity is very unevenly distributed across space: regions, cities and neighbourhoods seem to be very unequal, whether we look at average earnings, employment, education or almost any other socio-economic outcome. Regional, urban and neighbourhood policies are often based on concerns about these kinds of disparities, and reducing such disparities is a key policy objective in many countries. This paper considers the role of empirical analysis in informing the development of these policies. It is particularly concerned with issues arising in the quantitative evaluation of the impact of policy, the major barriers to more effective evaluation and how these might be addressed in future.

Suggested Citation

  • Steve Gibbons & Max Nathan & Henry G. Overman, 2014. "Evaluating Spatial Policies," SERC Policy Papers 012, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:sercpp:012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Björn Alecke & Timo Mitze & Annekatrin Niebuhr, 2021. "Building a bridge over the valley of death? New pathways for innovation policy in structurally weak regions," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 41(2), pages 185-210, October.
    3. Cheng, An-Ting, 2024. "Evaluating spatial policies without indicators: A study on Taiwan as a developmental state in transition," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    4. Ted Pinchbeck, 2014. "Walk This Way: Estimating Impacts of Walk in Centres at Hospital Emergency Departments in the English National Health Service," SERC Discussion Papers 0167, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    5. Sandra Bernick & Richard Davies & Anna Valero, 2017. "Industry in Britain: an atlas," CentrePiece - The magazine for economic performance 513, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    6. Thierry Mayer & Florian Mayneris & Loriane Py, 2017. "The impact of Urban Enterprise Zones on establishment location decisions and labor market outcomes: evidence from France," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 17(4), pages 709-752.
    7. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/3l4arseauo82kr3cm0qr8uihmg is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Thomas Brenner & Annekatrin Niebuhr, 2021. "Policy options for lagging regions—effects, new approaches and emerging challenges: introduction to the special issue," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 41(2), pages 125-130, October.
    9. Fredriksson, Anders, 2017. "Location-allocation of public services – Citizen access, transparency and measurement. A method and evidence from Brazil and Sweden," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 1-12.
    10. Thierry Mayer & Florian Mayneris & Loriane Py, 2017. "The impact of Urban Enterprise Zones on establishment location decisions and labor market outcomes: evidence from France," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 17(4), pages 709-752.
    11. Hooton, Christopher Alex, 2019. "The application of micro-geographic economic analysis in urban policy evaluation," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 125-135.
    12. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/1nfkh9tn2m87ko6gb634e2ufgl is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Irina Vladimirovna Grishina & Aleksandr Vladimirovich Kotov, 2020. "Federal support of regional development: investment aspect," Russian Foreign Economic Journal, Russian Foreign Trade Academy Ministry of economic development of the Russian Federation, issue 3, pages 23-34, March.
    14. Gill Bentley & Lee Pugalis, 2014. "Shifting paradigms: People-centred models, active regional development, space-blind policies and place-based approaches," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 29(4-5), pages 283-294, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Spatial economics; evaluation; impact evaluation; econometrics; research design; public policy; economic development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General

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