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It could be said that ‘we’ve never had it so good’: wages
are higher than ever; unemployment is
relatively low; we are living longer; educational attainment is improving,
crime rates have fallen. The
economy is much more diverse than it used to be, and economic growth and development
seem
to be reversing population decline. The glass is at least half full.
On the other hand, it can also be said that there are far too many people
in low skill, low wage jobs;
there is a great deal of hidden unemployment; far too many people die prematurely;
many still
leave school without even basic qualifications; and there is much concern
about anti-social
behaviour, drink and drugs. The economy is too dependent on the public sector,
there are too few
people prepared to be entrepreneurs, and many of our brightest young people
have to leave to get
a good job. Pessimists – perhaps realists – might say that economic
recession is bound to come,
because the economy is founded on debt and, in any case, continual economic
growth is not
environmentally sustainable. The glass is at least half empty.
There is, of course, merit in both these positions. The truth is that, in
many respects, life in County
Durham and Darlington is very much better than it once was. Over the past
few years, the area has
changed; to a large degree it has moved on from its industrial past and found
a new raison d’etre.
However, many places, communities and individuals have been left behind, or
not benefited much
from new economic development or wider social changes.
The challenges for the area can be encapsulated in terms of two broad priorities:
Deprivation. In County Durham and Darlington – as in British society
as a whole – economic
divisions are deep. Those divisions are perhaps especially apparent in Durham
City and Darlington,
but can also be seen in many former pit villages, where new owner-occupied
housing sits alongside
Council housing and old colliery rows. Such divisions may also be found in
the countryside, where
there can be great contrasts between landowners, commuters, local workers
and pensioners.
As well as there being a moral imperative, there are good economic and political
reasons why
deprivation should be tackled. The human costs are enormous, as are the economic
costs of
dealing with the consequences of deprivation and polarisation. Addressing
‘social exclusion’ is a
key component of Government policy and is central to much local policy, highlighted
in Local Area
Agreements, for example. In addition, exclusion from the labour market means
human resources
are wasted and output is lost to the economy. In relation to regional development
initiatives such
as The Northern Way, it is argued that reducing worklessness could greatly
reduce the North-South
divide in GDP. Furthermore, a divided society is less cohesive, with weaker
civil institutions.
Cultural change. There is much of enduring value in the traditional industrial
culture of the area,
particularly ideas and practices of ‘community’, which provide
cohesion, mutual support, sense of
identity and a common purpose. But there are aspects of the old culture and
lifestyles that are
damaging, inappropriate, and can limit opportunity and achievement. Aspirations
have to be raised,
horizons broadened, diversity understood and welcomed. For example, it is
essential to develop
a culture of learning consistent with the contemporary economy – so
individuals can access better
jobs and so they and the local economy can grow and develop. Alongside that,
the weak
entrepreneurial culture still has to be addressed as part of a process of
raising aspirations, ambition
and building self-confidence. The cultures embedded in second or third generation
workless
households, including benefit dependency, need to be changed – and there
are initiatives aimed
at doing that. There is a real need to break the inter-generational cycle
of poverty. Cultural change
also extends to lifestyle choices, which can mean reduced quality and quantity
of life.
And cultural change is not just required of the poor and disadvantaged. It
can be argued that the
biggest issue facing this society is climate change – a global concern
that requires a local, and
individual, response. People in County Durham and Darlington – as elsewhere
- will have to adapt
to a changed climate, and a radical response will be needed if we are to avoid
even greater change
in the future. That requires changes in behaviour and, more broadly, culture.
Those with most will
need to sacrifice most. Climate change is also expected to have major implications
for the
economy, with far reaching impacts on culture and society.
