Economic competitiveness and governance in areas of urban deprivation: the case study of two growth strategies in London.

In an urban context characterised by concentrated and persistent deprivation there has been a history of policy intervention albeit with limited impact. Michael
Porter's US inspired City Growth Strategy (CGS) initiative presented an alternative approach to urban economic regeneration within the UK characterised by a focus on the competitive advantages of deprived urban areas and a leading role for the private sector within the policy making process.
This thesis investigates the implementation of the City Growth Strategy in two areas of London (Haringey and the City Fringe) to explore wider issues of economic competitiveness and governance in relation to deprived urban areas. Drawing upon a range of institutional, regulationist and policy networks theoretical perspectives, this research adopted a case study qualitative approach
based on a number of face-to-face interviews. An evaluation process based on implementation theory was used to unpack the differences between theory, policy and practice with an emphasis on uncovering policy-making processes.
The study found that the application of Porter's vision in the UK context displays a number of weaknesses rooted both in its conceptualisation of the problems of deprived urban areas and the nature of its implementation. The emphasis upon the competitive advantages of deprived urban areas largely failed to translate into effective interventions due to problems of operationalising cluster policy locally, a lack of appreciation of the social dimension to urban problems and the particularities of the UK context. Private sector engagement has remained weak, although with notable exceptions in certain sectors and contexts, constrained by
the limited local interaction with the public sector and wider issues related to the continued dominance of the central state in setting and funding the policy agenda.
Implications from these fìndings are discussed including the need to think more precisely about différent types and styles of private sector involvement.

A Thesis submitted to Middlesex University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.