Research and Evaluation

A wealth of research has been undertaken to assist with the running and evaluation of the 2000-2006 Merseyside Objective 1 Programme. While this research has focused primarily on areas where the Programme has had a direct impact, it may be useful to a broad spectrum of policy makers and other interested parties across Merseyside.

Our research reports can be broadly described as follows:

Research Papers provide an in-depth analysis of specific issues or policy initiatives, such as the impact of business support interventions funded by the Programme; trends in the Merseyside Enterprise Gap; and change over time in Merseyside’s most deprived “Pathway” neighbourhoods.

Headline Indicator Reports provide a short, sharp analysis of trends relating to particular issues in Merseyside, such as population, GVA, the labour market, enterprise and infrastructure. They provide a useful background to the context in which the Objective 1 Programme and other initiatives have operated.

Environmental Monitoring Reports provide a baseline of environmental conditions in Merseyside and look to assess the impacts of Objective 1 policies on the environment. The first environmental monitoring report for Merseyside was produced in 2003, since when it has been updated on a regular basis.

Pathways Impact Monitoring Reports provide an analysis of socio-economic conditions in Merseyside’s most deprived neighbourhoods that have received targeted funding under the Objective 1 Programme. The first report was produced in 1998, with subsequent reports produced on an annual basis.

Research Paper Series

Research Paper 1 - The Merseyside Enterprise Gap

This paper investigates the nature and dynamics of the Merseyside’s enterprise gap in relation to both the North West and national picture.

Download Research Paper 1 here (pdf 1.18mb)

Research Paper 2 - Change Over Time in Pathways Areas

This paper analyses change over time in socio-economic conditions in Merseyside’s 38 most deprived neighbourhoods (Pathway areas) since 1998 in order both to determine whether conditions in the Pathway neighbourhoods are improving and whether the gap between deprived and non-deprived neighbourhoods is decreasing.

Download Research Paper 2 here (pdf 1.09mb)

Research Paper 3 - Analysis of Objective 1 Business Support

This paper analyses the impact of Objective 1 funded business support interventions on Merseyside businesses in terms of job creation.

Download Research Paper 3 here (pdf 3.53 mb)

Headline Indicator Reports

Population

The document provides an overview of recent population trends in Merseyside.

Download the report here (pdf 162kb)

GVA

This report summarises recent trends in productivity in Merseyside (GVA and GVA per head).

Download the report here (pdf 205kb)

Labour Market

This paper summarises recent changes in the Merseyside labour market. Topics covered include unemployment (including long-term unemployment and unemployment among young people), economic inactivity and qualification levels.

Download the report here (pdf 185kb)

Enterprise

This paper summarises changes in entrepreneurial activity in Merseyside, covering such issues as VAT registration rates, business formation and survival rates; self employment and residents’ attitudes towards starting a business.

Download the report here (pdf 126kb)

Infrastructure, Land and Premises

This paper summarises trends in office, retail, factory and warehouse stock; commercial and rateable values; vacant and derelict land and house prices.

Download the report here (596 kb)