State of the Region 2004-2008

We produced a State of the Region Report each year between 2004 and 2008.

Each year we reviewed the key issues and challenges facing the West Midlands region. We also reviewed the policies and strategies which address those challenges and the evidence base to support policy.

In 2008, we changed our State of the Region process. Moving from a single annual report, we started a series of thematic dialogues comprising of workshops bringing key policy makers and decision makers together with researchers and analysts supplying the evidence.

The aim is to make the evidence we produce even more relevant to the needs of policy makers, and to strengthen the way in which eveidence is used to inform policy.

State of the Region Report 2008 (PDF 1.37mb)State of the Region Report 2008

In the 2008 report (PDF, 1.37mb) we reviewed what the evidence tells us about changes in the West Midlands since 2004 and the key challenges remaining.

We looked at progress over the last four years in development of evidence-​based policy. The improved evidence base, to which we contributed, has had an impact and the importance of evidence-​based policy continues to rise.

The report concludes by looking to the future, in terms of planned evidence base developments, the process by which evidence informs policy making and key challenges facing the West Midlands, informed by the evidence presented earlier in the report.

 

State of the Region Update Report 2007 (PDF, 3.95mb)State of the Region Update Report 2007

In the 2007 update report (PDF, 3.95mb) we focused on two of the major challenges facing the West Midlands: climate change and changing population demographics.

We presented the evidence of the changing regional climate and projected changes under various scenarios, looking at implications of these changes on key sectors and resources.

We also presented the evidence about the population of the West Midlands, including future projections and migration figures and the implications on key policy themes.

Throughout, we considered what all of this means for regional policy makers.

 

State of the Region Update Report 2006 coverState of the Region Update Report 2006

In this 2006 update (PDF, 2.3mb) we explored the main elements in developing a sustainable knowledge economy – one which is economically competitive, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

We looked at transport in the region, revealing a picture of rising congestion threatening to undermine regional competitiveness and quality of life through degradation of the environment.

We also explored the scope of the region's cultural sector, both as an economic entity in its own right, and also as a facilitator of wider regional development, including knowledge economy development. We emphasised the importance of culture towards enhancing social cohesion and identity in the region.

 

State of the Region Update Report 2005 (PDF, 1.5mb)State of the Region Update Report 2005

The 2005 update (PDF, 1.5mb) made use of data from our regional lifestyle survey to explore issues of residential preference, community safety and community satisfaction.

We also looked at developing skills for a prosperous region and identified key issues relating to rural parts of the West Midlands.

 

 

 

 

State of the Region Report 2004 (PDF, 4.35mb)State of the Region Report 2004: Real Lives, Real Issues

Real Lives, Real Issues (PDF, 4.35mb) was our first State of the Region Report for the West Midlands.

The aim of this first report was to improve the robustness and completeness of the regional evidence base, identify the gaps in evidence, and place the available evidence in context to offer a clear view of the challenges and successes of the West Midlands.

 

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