A manifesto for local economies: 15 minutes with Neil McInroy

The Centre for Local Economic Strategies has published What Needs to Be Done, its manifesto for local economies. Chief executive Neil McInroy spoke to New Start about the need to build local common wealth whoever comes into power today; On why economic and social progress need to be ‘joined at the hip’; The problem we have for local economies and the economy in general is that economic activity is seen as distinct from the social when in fact they are one and the same. In local places economic progress needs to be joined at the hip with social progress and the two things thought of in the same breath. We need economic activity that puts people and community first rather than wealth accumulation. On the failures of local economic development Local economic development has focused too heavily on economic growth without connecting that growth to real people in real…

The full article can be read here.