Cities, growth and poverty: evidence review

Cities are drivers of economic growth, but how does growth affect poverty? This report explores the connection between growth and poverty in UK cities, and examines how strategies for economic growth and poverty reduction can be aligned. The report finds that: - There is no guarantee that economic growth will reduce poverty – in some economically expanding cities poverty has stayed the same or increased; - Employment growth has the greatest impact on poverty, but if jobs are low-paid or go to workers living outside the area, the impact is minimal; - Increased output risks worsening poverty because it can lead to increases in the cost of living; - Some cities are tackling this by promoting employment in expanding sectors or providing training for disadvantaged groups so they can access opportunities associated with major infrastructure projects.