The neglected spaces of economic rescaling: Insights into the in-between spaces of city-regionalism

Abstract

Over the last twenty years considerable attention has focused on the territorial restructuring and rescaling of the state. In particular, there has been an emphasis on city-regionalism to enhance the capacity of formal and more informal structures of governance to secure greater spatial equity and economic competitiveness. However, the spaces which sit outside of these spaces – the ‘In-between Spaces of City-Regionalism’ (ISCR) – have received relatively little attention. This paper addresses this gap in knowledge by focusing on the Northwest of England (UK) and an in-between space flanked by the Manchester and Liverpool city-regions. It highlights that despite the significant privileging of city-regions and their respective governance structures by the state, actors of relevance to ISCR spaces have also worked in highly entrepreneurial ways - both territorially and relationally - to embed economic development activities conducive to economic growth. Consequently, we offer important insights into the methods key actors in ISCR spaces can use to bypass presumed (and widely ineffective) assumptions of economic trickle down fuelled by city-regional agglomerative policy.