Unlocking local economies
Exploring new economics in practice
Rachel Laurence | Local Economies Co-ordinator
rachel.laurence@neweconomics.org | 0207 820 6397
www.neweconomics.org
Local Economies at New Economics Foundation
Extensive past work on approaches to Local Economies includes:
• Plugging the Leaks
• BizFizz
• Local Alchemy
• Clone Town Britain
Recent work from across NEF, which focusses on London, includes:
• Haringey Carbon Commission
• Waltham Forest Growth Commission
• Outcomes based commissioning work with various Local Authorities
• Community currency work in Brixton / Lambeth
Visit http://www.neweconomics.org/issues/entry/local-economies and
http://communitycurrenciesinaction.eu/) for more detail
Unlocking Local Economies
Undertaking research into existing attempts to tackle barriers and develop long term solutions to one or
a combination of local economic, social, environmental and power questions, through holistic, multistakeholder and multi-sector initiatives.
More research / pilots / testing models / synthesising
other evidence
Practice sharing network
Wider alliance
Wider audience
Year 1 
Years 2 and 3 
Report
Analytical
frameworks
/ models
Report
Network, advocacy, coms, capacity building…
Research – evidence review, mapping,
collecting findings
Types of demand
outside the area
Public services
Physical spacial set-up
Physical
resources
(materials,
goods)
Non profit
infrastructure
Community
infrastructure
Outcomes
people’s skills
Costs and prices
Physical infrastructure
Inward
investment
Types of demand
within the area
people’s social
capital
Local levers
Regional levers
New Economics Organisers’ Network (NEON)
-
Seeks to strengthen the movement working to replace neoliberalism with an economy
based on social and environmental justice.
Is a network of people taking practical action - members collaborate on campaigns,
discuss issues and work together.
Also runs trainings, events and help build the strength of member organisations.
If you’re taking practical action to create a socially and environmentally just economy and
want to collaborate with fellow campaigners, we want you to be part of NEON.
Please contact Huw Jordan, huw.jordan@neweconomics.org for further information.
So, in London…
- What are the outcomes we want our local economy to deliver?
- What do we mean by local economic development? What scale are we
talking about?
- What are the opportunities and the challenges of being a city-region?
- What economic elements should be part of an approach to transforming our
local economy? (Including access to finance for SMEs?)
- How do we want to see physical space (and planning), the mix of people in
any area in London (and equality), and the types of sector operating in any
area in London (economic strategy) interacting, to form an environment that
fosters the kind of economic outcomes we want to see?