Regionální rozdíly ve Spojeném království

This thesis examines the geography of regional inequality in the United Kingdom and identifies practical policies to narrow persistent gaps. It combines a critical synthesis of academic research with an empirical analysis of structural change from the 1970s to the late 1990s and its relationship to later growth. Using official regional accounts and labour-market data, the practical part tracks shifts in sectoral output and employment and summarises them with visualisation, simple OLS tests, and principal component analysis. The empirical results show a weak and heterogeneous association between restructuring and subsequent real GVA growth: regions prospered when manufacturing decline was matched by gains in higher-value tradable services, but similar or larger restructuring elsewhere did not translate into faster growth. A South East advantage dominates outcomes, pointing to the primacy of capabilities, connectivity, and institutions over generic sectoral churn. The thesis therefore proposes a multi-pronged strategy centred on governance and industrial policy: substantive devolution to enable place-sensitive delivery; targeted expansion and retention of STEM skills; upgrades to intra-urban transport in major non-London conurbations; rebalancing public R&D and supporting cluster development around university–industry anchors; and complementary housing reforms to ease mobility. Addressing these binding constraints offers a credible path to reducing the UK’s regional divide.