More Jobs, Better Cities - Read the article

What's the problem?
Across Europe almost one in ten of the active population is unemployed. More jobs are needed and URBACT believes that cities have an important role to play in supporting and growing new jobs, which lead to economic growth and resilience and addressing this mismatch. But what margin of manoeuvre do cities actually have to make a difference when so many of the policy decisions which affect economic growth are rooted at national and international levels? 

What can cities do?

The interesting article "More Jobs, Better Cities" sets out the challenge, explored the policy context in which Europe’s cities are operating and starting to unpick the central question: what can cities do to support and grow new jobs?

According to the authors, cities have a duty to reflect upon, and use, the policy levers open to them to try and generate new jobs for the people. They believe that cities need to tackle this challenge from a number of angles. "The key thing is that cities need to avoid being over ambitious, be realistic and try to swim with the tide rather than against it."

Growth and Development – the City Economy

Mike Campbell and Alison Partridge explain that one of the key questions facing cities is "where do jobs come from?" Clearly a range of factors are at play but there is no doubt that consumer demand for goods and services is central. Whilst a city is limited in terms of its ability to affect external demand, there is still some opportunity for influence e.g. through effective positioning of the city in relevant markets and through the provision of business support to help companies access international markets.

"Cities also need to consider how to create the conditions in which businesses prosper" add Mike Campbell and Alison Partridge. A reputation for a business friendly environment and good business support services for example can make a difference when attracting and retaining international investors.

The article also provide a couple of examples of what cities are doing on the ground and sought to be thought provoking on what options are available to them in the future.


Read more:

• Download The Urbact Tribune Article More Jobs Better Cities Thematic Paper (331.17 KB) - PDF
• Download The Tribune 2012 (6.81 MB) - PDF
• 'Tomorrow's cities need to work a lot smarter to grow jobs' -  Interview with Alison Partridge - URBACT website