Research Policy Network (RPNs)

Spatial Disparities and Policy

This project has been retired.

Years active: July 2021; July 2024

Project lead

Helen Simpson

Professor of Economics University Of Bristol

Fellow, International Trade and Regional Economics / RPN Leader, Spatial Disparities and Policy

The Spatial Disparities & Policy RPN, established in July 2021, for a period of three years, was successively led by Anthony Venables (University of Oxford and CEPR) and Helen Simpson (University of Bristol and CEPR). Leadership of the RPN was supported by a Steering Committee : Gilles Duranton (Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania), Gianmarco Ottaviano (Bocconi University), Henry Overman (London School of Economics), Jens Suedekum (Henrich Heine University Düsseldorf) and Elisabet Viladecans-Marsal (University of Barcelona).

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 supported 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?

On Tuesday, 12 December, 13:30 - 14:30 (Paris time), the Spatial Disparities & Policy RPN held a Session at Sciences Po during the CEPR Paris Symposium 2023.

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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 Productivity Institute; Professor of Economics University Of Manchester

Elisabet Viladecans-Marsal

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

Members

Marius Brülhart

Professor of Economics HEC Lausanne

Pierre-Philippe Combes

CNRS Professor Sciences Po Paris

Diane Coyle

Swati Dhingra

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

Cécile Gaubert

Assistant Professor of Economics University of California, Berkeley

Edward Glaeser

Professor of Economics Harvard University

RPN Member, Spatial Disparities and Policy

Ines Helm

Professor Johannes Kepler University Linz; 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

Philip McCann

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

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