Bridging the gap:what would it take to narrow the UK’s productivity disparities?

An economic strategy that helps the UK respond to change and tackle stagnant living standards and productivity will need to address the stubborn spatial disparities in economic performance across the UK. Addressing these disparities requires understanding their extent, causes and consequences. This report uses data on regional productivity and area level characteristics to deepen our understanding of the spatial gaps in productivity across the UK. We study the extent to which these gaps have changed over time and compare them with those of comparable international peers. We use analyse what area level characteristics account for the gaps we see between areas. Finally, we consider what these findings means for a wider economic strategy which attempts to tackle these gaps.