How strategic authorities can develop effective local economic plans: Making devolution work
Think tank: Institute for Government
Author(s): Rebecca McKee; Thomas Pope
June 23, 2025
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government explores how local economic strategies can be powerful drivers of prosperity and growth.
As the government continues progress on the ‘devolution revolution’, it is more important than ever for strategic authorities to use their devolved powers in a coherent and strategic way.
This report sets out how these authorities can develop effective economic strategies, whichever stage of development they are at. The government has both deepened and widened devolution in England – devolving greater powers to existing mayoral authorities and introducing new mayoral strategic authorities (MSAs) as part of this ‘devolution revolution’.
This report, produced in partnership with the University of Surrey, explores how strategic authorities can develop effective economic strategies tailored to their specific contexts, and provides insights for local leaders and officials seeking to develop robust local economic strategies and strengthen their local economies including by:
Developing an understanding of place
Creating a shared vision for the area
Translating that vision into a plan
Communicating the strategy to different audiences
If done well, local economic strategies can be powerful drivers of prosperity and growth by supporting businesses, creating employment opportunities and attracting investment, and local areas should embrace them.
