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Practice running ahead of theory? Political economy and the economic lessons of UK devolution

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  • Graham Brownlow
Abstract
Advocates of political decentralisation make much of its supposed ‘economic dividends’. Critics of this argument, while acknowledging the possible benefits, suggest that the specific ‘institutional geography’ under which devolution operates is crucial. In short, the Institutionalist critique is that economic outcomes are contingent on the way devolved institutions are designed. The institutional geography of contemporary UK devolution, as well as the historical case of Northern Irish devolution (1920–1972), is analysed in this article. Contemporary and historical evidence, as well as theoretical material presented, provides further support for the hypothesis that institutional structures are crucial.

Suggested Citation

  • Graham Brownlow, 2017. "Practice running ahead of theory? Political economy and the economic lessons of UK devolution," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 10(3), pages 559-573.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:cjrecs:v:10:y:2017:i:3:p:559-573.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/cjres/rsx015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    15. Esmond Birnie & Graham Brownlow, 2017. "Should the fiscal powers of the Northern Ireland Assembly be enhanced?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(9), pages 1429-1439, September.
    16. Andy Pike & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & John Tomaney & Gianpiero Torrisi & Vassilis Tselios, 2012. "In Search of the ‘Economic Dividend’ of Devolution: Spatial Disparities, Spatial Economic Policy, and Decentralisation in the UK," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 30(1), pages 10-28, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Graham Brownlow & Esmond Birnie, 2018. "Rebalancing and Regional Economic Performance: Northern Ireland in A Nordic Mirror," Economic Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(1), pages 58-73, February.
    2. Jordan, David, 2023. "Failing to level up? Industrial policy and productivity in interwar Northern Ireland," QUCEH Working Paper Series 23-04, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University Centre for Economic History.
    3. David Jordan, 2023. "Macroeconomic Perspectives on Productivity," Working Papers 031, The Productivity Institute.

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