This paper examines spatial variations in unemployment stocks and flows in the North-West region of Great Britain. It utilises information describing the monthly flow of persons through the unemployment register. Combining the stock data with the flow data, it is possible to infer the mean duration of unemployment so that the relative contribution of the inflow rate and the mean duration of unemployment in determining spatial variations in the unemployment rate can be investigated. Some travel-to-work areas are shown to have a low inflow rate and a high mean duration of unemployment, whereas other areas have the reverse. This suggests the existence of quite different types of unemployment problems in different areas. The policy implications of this finding are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Armstrong, H. and Taylor; J. (1978). Regional Economic Policy and Its Analysis. Oxford: Phillip Allan.
2.
Armstrong, H. and Taylor, J. (1981). 'The Measurement of Different Types of Unemployment ', in J. Creedy (ed.), The Economics of Unemployment in Britain. London: Butterworths.
3.
Ball, R.M. (1980). 'The Use and Definition of Travel-to-Work Areas in Great Britain: Some Problems', Regional Studies, Vol. 14, 125-140.
4.
Chiplin, B. (1982). 'Unemployment and the Labour Market', in J. Creedy and B. Thomas (eds.), The Economics of Labour, Butterworths, London, 274-312.
5.
Cripps, T.F. and Tarling, R.J. (1974). 'An Analysis of the Duration of Male Unemployment in Great Britain, 1932-73', Economic Journal, Vol. 84, 289-316.
6.
Department Of Employment (1972). ' Unemployment Flow Statistics', Gazette, September, 791-785.
7.
Department Of Employment (1973a). ' The Duration of Unemployment', Gazette, February, 111-116.
8.
Department Of Employment (1973b). ' Flow Statistics - Unemployment and Unfilled Vacancies', Gazette , September, 838-848.
9.
Department Of Employment (1978). ' Duration of Unemployment', Gazette, September, 1048-1058.
10.
Elias, D.P.B. (1978). 'Regional Unemployment Elasticities: Further Evidence ', Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 25, 89-96.
11.
Fowler, R.F. (1968). Duration of Unemployment on the Register of Wholly Unemployed, Studies in Official Statistics, Research Series No. 1. London: HMSO.
12.
Gleave, D. and Palmer, D. (1980). 'Spatial Variations in Unemployment: A Typology', Papers of theRegional Science Association, Vol. 44, 57-71.
13.
Hughes, P. (1982). 'Aggregate Flows On and Off the Register in Great Britain', Department of Employment, Social Science Branch , mimeograph.
14.
Layard, R. (1981a). 'Unemployment in Britain: Causes and Cures', Centre for Labour Economics, Discussion Paper No. 87, London School of Economics.
15.
Layard, R. (1981b). 'Measuring the Duration of Unemployment: A Note ', Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 28, 273-277.
16.
Lever, W.F. (1980). 'The Operation of Local Labour Markets in Great Britain', Papers of theRegional Science Association, Vol. 44, 37-55.
17.
Marquand, J. (1980). 'Measuring the Effects and Costs of Regional Incentives', Government Economic Service Working Paper No. 32, Department of Industry, London.
18.
Mccallum, D. (1979). 'The Development of British Regional Policy', in D. Maclennan and J. B. Parr (eds.), Regional Policy: Past Experience and New Directions. Oxford: Martin Robertson .
19.
McCrone, G. (1968). Regional Policy in Britain. London: Allen and Unwin.
20.
Miller, R.L. and Williams, R.M. (1974). Unemployment and Inflation. The New Economics of the Wage-Price Spiral. St. Paul: West Publishing.
21.
Owen, D.W. and Gillespie, A.E. (1980). 'Trends in Male and Female Unemployment in the Northern region, 1971-80', Regional Science Association Conference - British Section, September 1980.
22.
Smart, M.W. (1974). 'Labour Market Areas: Uses and Definitions', in D. Diamond and J. B. McLoughlin (eds.), Progress in Planning 2. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
23.
Stern, J. (1982). 'Unemployment Inflow Rates for Autumn 1978', Centre for Labour Economics Discussion Paper No. 129.
24.
Taylor, J. and Bradley, S. (1983). 'The Analysis of Spatial Variations in the Unemployment Rate: A Case Study of the North-West of England, Regional Studies, Vol. 17.
25.
Thirlwall, A.P. (1974). 'Types of Unemployment in the Regions of Great Britain' Manchester School, Vol. 42, 325-339.
26.
Townsend, A.R. (1980). 'Unemployment Geography and the New Government's "Regional Aid"', Area, Vol. 12, 9-18.
