Stop waiting on growth, let’s build a better now

ESTRAGON: We always find something, eh Didi, to give us the impression we exist?

DIDI (Vladimir): Yes yes, we’re magicians

Some economic thinking is becoming a bit like the surreal world contained in Samuel Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot!  This absurd and random thought came to mind whilst I was a bit wearied, listening to a presentation on the impressive growth plans for Atlantic Gateway, a development corridor running between Manchester and Liverpool.

In Waiting for Godot, a pair of ‘down at heel’ men – Estragon and Vladimir (Didi), endlessly divert themselves, while waiting for someone named Godot to arrive. To fill the waiting, they eat, sleep, blether, bicker, sing, play games, exercise, fool around, anything ‘to hold the terrible silence at bay’. In the Atlantic Gateway presentation, I was startled and amazed by the scale and by the aspirations.  They spoke of the potential for 250,000 jobs and £14bn worth of investment. There were artistic impression and claims that this plan could achieve levels of growth not previously seen outside of London.

But right now, there is economic misery and it’s getting worse.  The latest growth figures from HM Treasury predict ongoing sluggishness – and remember these depressing figures are for the UK as a whole.  Some places are far worse off and are much further from growth.  Indeed some areas did not have growth in the good times!

There is a limit to what even the best economic development practice can do for growth and some are turning a blind eye to the hellish global context. The possibility that growth might not arrive any time soon is real. And therefore, like these comical and sad characters Estragon and Vladimir, some economic planners are hopelessly occupying themselves, creating a sense of purpose underpinned by the big hope that their ‘Godot’ or growth will arrive.

Some local economic development thinking, including the work of the local enterprise partnerships (LEPs), is firmly predicated on a return to general economic health and growth.  All too often thinking and practice is incapable of working through what needs to done in the context of meagre growth, no growth or even longer term economic decline.

Many know this and readily acknowledge the immediate and possibly longer term pain, but can think of nothing else to do.  They are locked into a boomgoggling narrative of economic growth.  They think growth will return and that certainty brings solace. At one point in the play Vladimir says: ‘What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in the immense confusion one thing alone is clear. We are waiting for Godot’

Obviously we must plan for the possibility of growth and I hope growth – unlike Godot – eventually arrives for the Atlantic Gateway plans and therefore provides a boost to the economy of the north west of England.  However we must be wary of this hope. And we must take purposeful action now. Economic development professionals and the wider business, social and public sector communities must balance these impressive development plans for future economic growth with the very real possibility that growth might not arrive.

My own organisation CLES, while embedded in economic development practice and thinking that is predicated on a return to growth, is also part of a growing UK and global movement of cross disciplinary placemakers, planners and social groups who are thinking and doing things for the now.

It’s a movement in which resilience has a greater prominence, and where threats are proactively confronted.  It’s about a growth in human, social, cultural and environmental capital. This will create a better society now, and may, if global economic conditions get better, be the kernel of more economic success in the future.  This approach does not see growth as an end in itself, but rather sees growth as a means by which we can nurture the environment, create great places and a better society.  Tangibly, there are many activities in terms of making the most of what we have in terms of public sector spend and commissioning, living wage and apprenticeships.  We are also seeing a growth in local economic thinking including ideas around transition to low carbon and steady state local economies.

As an economic development professional, the challenge is clear – it’s time for a revolution in practice and thinking.  We must stop waiting for growth and build a better now.