University of Manchester: AI study reveals England’s productivity divide is far more complex than North-South
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
Researchers at The University of Manchester have used artificial intelligence to uncover a complex picture behind England’s long-running productivity puzzle, challenging the idea that the country’s economic performance can be explained by a simple North-South divide.
In a major study published in the Spatial Economic Analysis journal, Professor Cecilia Wong and Dr Helen Zheng applied ‘GeoAI’ techniques - combining geography and artificial intelligence - to analyse how productivity varies across local authorities in England between 2010 and 2022.Productivity, measured as Gross Value Added (GVA) per hour worked, is a key driver of wages and living standards. Since the 2008 financial crisis, UK productivity growth has lagged behind other major economies, fuelling debate among economists and policymakers.
The research shows that the national picture hides a complex local story. While London and the South-East still contain many of the highest-productivity areas, performance within the region varies. Some traditionally strong local authorities have experienced stagnation or decline over the past decade - and several lower-productivity areas in the Midlands and AI study reveals England’s productivity divide is far more complex than North-South | Global Research Partnershipsnorthern England have recorded faster growth, albeit from a lower starting point.The study found that nearly half of England’s local authorities performed below the national average on both productivity level and growth rate between 2010 and 2022.
