2.4d How can public policy address constraints to geographical and economic mobility for workers displaced from the energy transition and climatic shocks? What policies are required to productively integrate migrants into urban areas?

Background

Research supports policy makers to adjust to the changing global economic environment, to deliver sustainable, inclusive growth that is resilient to a variety of shocks. Global changes in technology, trade and climate are re-shaping the pathways open to countries of all income levels to drive structural transformation and employment-rich growth, while increased debt levels are reducing policymakers’ room to manoeuvre.

Research and evidence are also needed to bring a suite of broader economic tools to spur the private sector and increase productivity through increased investment, trade, technological upgrading and improved human capital and infrastructure.

Next steps

Get in touch with [email protected]

Related UKRI funded projects


  • Regional Differentials, Changing Working Patterns and High-Skilled Labour Mobility

    In the face of mounting policy concerns around regional inequalities, productivity weakness and the under-performance of the UK's second-tier cities, this project seeks to understand changing mobility patterns of high-sk...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Southampton

    Why might this be relevant?

    This project specifically focuses on high-skilled labor mobility and policies to attract and retain such labor, directly addressing the question on integrating migrants into urban areas.

  • Climate Mobility, Onward Precarity and Urban Environment (CEMENT)

    Our understanding of 'climate mobility' is changing. 'Climate mobility' means both voluntary and involuntary, multidirectional movement of people, including an act of not moving, for reasons related to climate change, wh...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Oxford

    Why might this be relevant?

    While this project focuses on climate mobility in Ethiopia, it provides insights into family decision-making and urban opportunities, partially addressing the question on integrating migrants into urban areas.

  • Migration and the North-South Divide

    Some parts of the UK have persistently higher unemployment rates than others - Figure 1 in the Case for Support shows the unemployment rate in 2011 and 1981 in the largest cities. Although some parts of the South perform...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: London School of Economics and Political Science

    Why might this be relevant?

    This project examines migration patterns in the UK and factors influencing economic opportunity, partially addressing the question on constraints to geographical and economic mobility for displaced workers.

  • "LEVELLING UP" LABOUR SUPPLY

    The Coronavirus pandemic has led to increases in retirement and long-term sickness, and Brexit and the pandemic together have led to a reduction in the number of EU workers in the UK. Together, these changes amount to a ...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Birmingham

  • Global Strategy for Skills, Migration, and Development

    In light of EU challenges relating to an aging workforce and the energy transition, the EU faces a shortage of relevant skills. GS4S seeks to better understand global skills shortages in selected sectors (Digital, Care a...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: ODI

  • Economic change and internal population dynamics: an innovative study of new residential mobilities in Scotland

    The proposed research aims to advance academic and policy understandings of how the recent period of economic recession and uncertainty has affected patterns and processes of residential mobility within Scotland. Mobilit...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University of St Andrews

  • GCRF Inclusive Societies - Migration for Inclusive African Growth

    After decades of pessimism some African economies have recently experienced the fastest growth rates in the world, though this growth has not yet trickled down to the poorest. The proposed research aims to address one as...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: The Open University

  • Supporting the social mobility of trapped populations in very poor urban areas

    Urbanisation is the defining feature of global population distribution. Until at least 2050, city growth will be concentrated in developing countries and most of that growth will come from migration from rural areas. Man...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Sussex

  • Labour mobility in transition: a multi-actor study of the re-regulation of migrant work in 'low-skilled' sectors

    Migration for work is a key part of employment in the UK, but it will change critically after Brexit, with significant restrictions being placed on migration into low-skilled jobs. Jobs in sectors such as food, care and ...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Leeds

  • Transforming places for the precariously housed: Equitable adaptation pathways for climate mobilities

    Climate change will mean more people on the move as extreme weather threatens lives, destroys property and ruins livelihoods. Most people will move from the countryside to the city. However, some will change their local ...

    Funded by: ISPF

    Lead research organisation: King's College London