On the wrong track: An analysis of the autumn statement announcements on transport infrastructure

Article

Much was made in the chancellor's autumn statement of how every region of England will benefit from increased infrastructure spending, with the chancellor listing a host of road and rail projects in the North of England as part of his speech. In order to assess these claims, IPPR North has analysed the data detailing the projects to be brought forward as part of the national infrastructure pipeline.

Behind the rhetoric of rebalancing, our analysis reveals a very different picture and a series of regional disparities that are, at a simple level, unfair. But they also defy the economic logic upon which they are supposedly based. While the government is right to focus on infrastructure investment, a greater proportion of its investment needs to be channelled to so-called 'lagging regions' in order to get the UK economy firing on all cylinders.

Related items

  1. Street scene in financial district, London

    Rule of the market: How to lower UK borrowing costs

    The UK is paying a premium on its borrowing costs that ‘economic fundamentals’, such as the sustainability of its public finances, cannot fully explain. 
  2. A mother and child from behind looking out of a window

    Restoring security: Understanding the effects of removing the two-child limit across the UK

    The government’s decision to lift the two-child limit marks one of the most significant changes to the social security system in a decade.
  3. A group of healthcare professionals sitting in a staff common room in a hospital in Newcastle

    Building a healthier, wealthier Britain: Launching the IPPR Centre for Health and Prosperity

    Following the success of our Commission on Health and Prosperity, IPPR is excited to launch the Centre for Health and Prosperity.