For decades, the UK has judged economic success by one headline number: national GDP. But ask someone in a struggling town or an overlooked corner of a big city whether the economy is working for them, and the national figure often feels a world away from daily life.
In episode #11 of The DigiGov Podcast, host Piers Kelly sits down with one of the UK’s best-known economists to ask what we miss when we measure growth only at the national level, and how better data could change that.
Andy Haldane is a former Chief Economist at the Bank of England, a Senior Economic Advisor at PwC and President of the British Chambers of Commerce. He joins us to discuss PwC’s Good Growth Barometer and the Place-Based Intelligence Model behind it, which brings together financial, social and environmental data to build a detailed picture of how places across the UK are really doing.
Why this conversation matters now
Local leaders are being asked to write growth plans for their areas, devolution is giving mayors more responsibility, and there is growing appetite for data-led decisions across government. But a plan is only as good as the evidence behind it. Understanding where a place is strong, where it is falling behind and what is holding it back has never mattered more.
What’s covered in the episode
- Beyond GDP. What politicians and economists miss when they treat growth as a single national figure, and why the things that make a good life aren’t all financial.
- Surprising findings. Why the UK’s economic story is far more complicated than a simple north-south divide. Some of the most striking differences are much closer to home than you might expect.
- A recipe for growth. Andy offers a memorable way of thinking about what a place needs to thrive, and why there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
- Joined-up conversations. How shared data can help councils, businesses, universities, hospitals and central government work from the same page.
- Bringing in private investment. Why transparent, reliable data is essential to giving investors the confidence to back a place.
- Advice for local leaders. Andy’s top principles for anyone responsible for growing a place, and why the time horizon may be longer than you think.
- The future of place-making. How digital tools could change the way towns and cities plan their next 20 years.
Who should listen
This episode is essential listening for local and combined authority leaders, policy makers, economic development teams, and anyone interested in how data and digital tools can help deliver growth that people actually feel. Andy is engaging, optimistic and full of insight, and he makes a complex topic easy to follow.
Listen now below or find The DigiGov Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms. Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping the future of digital government. You can also explore the Good Growth Barometer for yourself.
Piers Kelly
Experienced Marketing Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the events services industry. Enjoys writing on Cyber Security, Emerging Tech & Digital Transformation. Marketing professional with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Politics and Economics from Newcastle University.
