New analysis of 20 English combined authorities suggests economic growth is not always keeping pace with rising populations.
The research, by Geospatial AI platform EvaluateLocate, tracks Gross Value Added (GVA) per head between 2016 and 2026.
Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire lead the way. Greater Manchester’s economy grew by nearly 40%, but with its population up 10.3%, GVA per head rose by 26.5%. West Yorkshire saw a 20.4% increase.
Others fared less well. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s population grew by 17.3%, while GVA per head fell by 3.2%. In Tees Valley, GVA per head is 3.5% lower than a decade ago, despite a 7.5% rise in population.
EvaluateLocate CEO, Adam Kirby, commented: ‘All 20 combined authorities covered by the analysis saw the absolute level of GVA grow during the past ten years. However, you need to look at what that equates to in terms of the size of the economy per person to get a picture that matches the experience of prosperity on the ground and whether economic growth translates into real growth in the resources available per resident.
‘In the face of local government consolidation and the creation of new authority areas, we’re seeing rapidly increasing demand for a quick, accurate and affordable method for authorities to understand defined economic and demographic landscapes. This type of analysis enables local government and a range of other stakeholders to better understand patterns of economic activity and to shape strategy.’
