The rhetoric–reality gap of cities' success: learning from the practice of Scottish cities. Issue 12 (2nd December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miao, Julie T.; Maclennan, Duncan
• Is Part Of: Regional studies. Volume 53:Issue 12(2019)
• Page Start: 1761
• Page End: 1771
• Publication Date: 2019-12-02
• Subjects: city success -- local economic policy -- City Deals -- devolution -- Scotland; O2 -- O18 -- O21 -- R58; Regional planning -- Periodicals; Regional planning -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 307.14
• DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2019.1597970
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-3404

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper argues that the shift from a top-down coordination of governments' policies for the economies of cities towards the bottom-up self-organization of cities is not necessarily supported by appropriately competent local economic management capabilities and resources. In Scotland just before the advent of City Deals, various constraints in policy-making logic chains, data availability, accounting focus and planning coordination were found that continuously limit the efforts of cities in shaping a successful economy. For devolution to shape both national productivity growth and locally led success, the gap between rhetoric and reality must be narrowed substantially and quickly.