City-regions: new geographies of uneven development and inequality.

This paper argues that the championing of ‘cityregions’ provides an opportunity for taking these debates further. It draws on research taking place on the Sheffield City-Region, UK, and particularly discusses the interrelationships between competitiveness, work–welfare regimes – those policies and strategies dealing with labour market governance and welfare state restructuring – labour market inequalities and low pay. The paper suggests that city-regions reinforce, and have the potential to increase, rather than resolve, uneven development and socio-spatial inequalities.