Following on from the very successful 2008 MIER Workshop Series (details of which are at the bottom of this page), a further MIER Workshop took place on 12 and 13th March 2016. The two day workshop was held at the University of Manchester.
The conference included new information from recently published MIER reports as well as the four broad topic areas listed below:
Day 1 WORKSHOP 1 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY
SESSION 1 SETTING THE SCENE 10.00 TO 13.00
This session provided an introduction to the changing nature of economic development in England including;–
changes over the previous decade and the policy drivers that have underpinned the change
The drivers of economic growth – business and markets, people and skills, places and partnerships
Perspectives on the transformation of local and regional economies – market and technology foresight
SESSION 2 WHY ACT? – MARKET & OTHER FAILURES 14.00 TO 17.00
Rationales for public sector intervention – this session looked at ‘market failures’, including ‘externalities’ and ‘agglomeration’, information and co-ordination failures; institutional failure and equity arguments for public sector action
Is there a trade-off between economic growth and equity? – looked at the theory and the practice of setting and then achieving multiple aims
Profile of issues in the Manchester City Region – looked at growth and equity issues in the context of the Manchester City Region
Day 2 WORKSHOP 2 TARGETS, APPRAISAL & EVALUATION AND PUTTING LEARNING IN TO PRACTICE
SESSION 3: TARGETS & EVALUATION
The performance management architecture – looked at Public Service Agreements, Local Area Agreements, and Multi Area Agreements etc.
Good practice in appraisal and evaluation – looked in particular at programme and project-level appraisals and evaluations to improve decision-making processes
SESSION 4: WHAT NEXT FOR MIER?
The what, where and why or MIER – looking at the intensions of the MIER, the findings to date and next steps...
In preparation for the outputs of the Manchester Independent Economic Review (MIER), an integrated series of interactive workshops were held on themes related to economic development and the work of the MIER. The workshops, aimed at economic development professionals, served to highlight and discuss the key economic development issues for the City Region.
Discussions at the seminars focused on the nature of these issues, what can be done to address particular problems, and the role of the public sector, and key partners in tackling them. The workshops drew upon the themes that the MIER is examining , including: The Case for Agglomeration Economies; Industry Sectors, Clusters and the Innovation System; Economic Connectivity and Trade; Inward and Indigenous Investment; Labour Markets, Skills and Talent; and Sustainable Communities.
The MIER 2008 Workshop Series was very well attended and was well received by those who participated. Slides from the seminars are available to view and download below, with feedback and evaluation of the Series also attached at the bottom of this page.
WORKSHOP 1: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - SETTING THE SCENE
Thursday 25 September, Manchester Business School
WORKSHOP 2: SUSTAINING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - DEVELOPING THE THINKING AND UNDERSTANDING THE TENSIONS
Tuesday 7 October, Manchester Museum, University of Manchester
WORKSHOP 3: THE FUTURE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?
THE EMPHASIS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE MANCHESTER CITY REGION
Thursday 23 October, Manchester Museum, University of Manchester
WORKSHOP 4: THE ECONOMICS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Thursday 6 November, 'The Egg' conference room (Ground Floor), University of Manchester Core Technology Facility (CTF)
WORKSHOP 5: GOING FORWARD WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Thursday 20 November, 'The Egg' conference room (Ground Floor), University of Manchester Core Technology Facility (CTF)