Evaluation of Andy Burnham's economic and business policies as Manchester's mayor and discussion on replication of such policies across UK

In this essay, Andy Burnham's economic and business policies as Mayor of Greater Manchester are assessed and whether they should be replicated throughout the United Kingdom is considered. It explores the Bee Network's bus franchise model, the Manchester Baccalaureate technical education pathway and coordination of transport, skills and spatial development, informed by the agglomeration theory, regional economic data and policy evidence. The analysis indicates that these policies can boost the existing economic clusters by easing travel constraints, enhancing labour market matching and aligning education with the demand of local employers. But economic growth and higher bus ridership are not a proof of productivity gains or equitable distribution of benefits due to mayoral policy. The strategy is also one where public financial risk is involved, where employers need to be engaged and where there are difficulties in coordinating provision across local authorities. The transferability of this is therefore conditioned by the population density, commuting patterns, capacity of institutions, industrial strengths and continued funding. The essay suggests that the principles of coordinated, place-based governance, but with local adaptations of interventions, should be embraced by other regions. It suggests that pilots be conducted in phases, that accessibility be transparently accounted for and evaluated, that employment, productivity and distributional impacts be accounted for and evaluated, and that safeguards be put in place against simply displacing activity to nearby areas. In conclusion, Greater Manchester offers a good example of regional co-ordination but wider roll out will need to be based on good evidence that locally designed policies offer extra economic and social benefits.