10B Success and Social Progress
Social progress can be measured by reductions in inequalities both between areas and within them; social progress can also be measured by improvements in social measures of deprivation and in demographic changes (improvements in life expectancy and reductions in health deprivation).
A key question is whether regeneration actually reduces the inequalities it sets out to. A report in 2013 by the Work Foundation looked at inequality in the UK cities based on difference in wages:
Overall, northern cities were much more equal than their more successful southern counterparts, because most people are poor. Greater Manchester is one of the northern industrial cities that has seen waves of regeneration since the 1980s in Salford Quays, East Manchester for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and in the city centre after the IRA bombing in 1996.
Social progress data:
There is some evidence here that Manchester has made most progress relative to the other two areas. This is confirmed by the 22% increase in Manchester's population from 2001-14 compared to only 11% in Salford and Trafford.
- The top five most unequal cities were London, Reading and Bracknell, Portsmouth, Guildford and Aberdeen.
- The top five most equal cities were Bradford, Plymouth, Barnsley, Stoke and Burnley.
Overall, northern cities were much more equal than their more successful southern counterparts, because most people are poor. Greater Manchester is one of the northern industrial cities that has seen waves of regeneration since the 1980s in Salford Quays, East Manchester for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and in the city centre after the IRA bombing in 1996.
Social progress data:
- Manchester - 2001-2011 increase of 0.8% in working age employed full time; decrease of 10.8% in working age with no qualifications; decrease of 3.7 in infant mortality per 1000 live births
- Trafford - decrease of 1.5%, decrease of 6.1%, decrease of 2.1%
- All three areas have improved overall, especially improved health measured by falling infant mortality and better education measured by the percentage with no qualifications.
- Manchester is the only area with more full time employees and it has the best improvements in qualifications and infant mortality.
- Salford has experienced the least progresss
There is some evidence here that Manchester has made most progress relative to the other two areas. This is confirmed by the 22% increase in Manchester's population from 2001-14 compared to only 11% in Salford and Trafford.