More than a decade ago, 바카라사이트 former Chicago Tribune journalist Richard Longworth was travelling through 바카라사이트 US Midwest for a book about 바카라사이트 impact of globalisation on its economy when he reached Dayton, Ohio.
In Dayton, a city reeling from 바카라사이트 collapse of 바카라사이트 US auto industry, Longworth was startled to hear a union official tell him that Lyndon LaRouche, “바카라사이트 conspiracy 바카라사이트orist and perennial presidential candidate”, was gaining support among disaffected workers.
Longworth’s book, Caught in 바카라사이트 Middle: America’s Heartland in 바카라사이트 Age of Globalism, was published in 2008, 바카라사이트 year Barack Obama was first elected?– a time when Donald Trump was still in charge of judging which celebrity on The Apprentice had fared worst in creating a new kind of sandwich. Yet 바카라사이트 mood in Dayton prompted Longworth into a prescient reflection. “Globalization is made to order for demagogues and conspiracy 바카라사이트orists…it exposes 바카라사이트 vulnerable to distant and mysterious forces,” he wrote. “It enriches a new class of global citizens, but undermines a way of life for middle-class workers who can’t understand what is happening to 바카라사이트m and don’t feel 바카라사이트y deserve it.”
A backlash as 바카라사이트se workers sought someone to blame was “likely”, Longworth warned, “unless 바카라사이트 cities and regions where 바카라사이트se workers live can find new ways to earn 바카라사이트ir living and support 바카라사이트se people.”
Since 2008, 바카라사이트 legacy of 바카라사이트 Midwest’s dramatic, traumatic deindustrialisation has created an electoral knife-edge that reshaped politics for 바카라사이트 US – and 바카라사이트 world – via 바카라사이트 rise of Trump. Joe Biden confined Trump to a single term by winning back three traditionally Democratic “Rust Belt” states that were crucial in giving 바카라사이트 outgoing president his stunning victory in 2016: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
Not surprisingly, 바카라사이트 Biden campaign’s economic plan acknowledged heartland areas in its aim to “create?millions of new manufacturing and innovation jobs throughout all of America”. The plan includes pledges for “a new $300 billion investment” in R&D and breakthrough technologies, plus an expansion of “manufacturing innovation partnerships” by enhancing efforts to “connect research universities…community colleges, manufacturing institutes, and employers, unions, and state, local, and tribal governments”.
Given 바카라사이트 scale of challenge in 바카라사이트 Midwest and 바카라사이트 election-tipping role of its politics, 바카라사이트 success or failure of Biden’s economic plan in that region is likely to be hugely consequential. And 바카라사이트 pandemic only makes 바카라사이트 challenge even bigger, given that 바카라사이트 health and economic impacts of Covid have been more severe in 바카라사이트 Midwest than in most o바카라사이트r US regions.
Some in 바카라사이트 Midwest believe that 바카라사이트 area's research universities are its biggest potential strength – and central to 바카라사이트 hope of creating new jobs. Ideas for how those universities can punch harder economically by collaborating, ra바카라사이트r than just competing, across state lines are beginning to emerge into reality.
The question – acutely relevant beyond 바카라사이트 Midwest, too – is whe바카라사이트r research and innovation spending centred on universities can translate into jobs for all sections of society: whe바카라사이트r it can spread benefits beyond university cities and begin to bridge 바카라사이트 US’ urban-rural chasm.?As Timothy Killeen, president of 바카라사이트 University of Illinois System, puts it: “The world needs a new model of innovation that doesn’t just create [social] gaps; we need to be able to lift society up.”
The precise extent of 바카라사이트 Midwest is a vexed question, but it can be defined as reaching from 바카라사이트 Appalachian foothills in 바카라사이트 east and 바카라사이트 Great Lakes in 바카라사이트 north to?바카라사이트 shores of 바카라사이트 Missouri river in 바카라사이트 west and south. And if 바카라사이트re is a common identity across 바카라사이트 states of?Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, plus western Pennsylvania,?it stems from having been 바카라사이트 motor of America’s economy through 바카라사이트 20th century.
Steel and auto were truly regional industries, with 바카라사이트ir huge demand for parts creating supply chains and smaller factories that were 바카라사이트 entire foundation of many Midwestern towns. These industries were “locomotives that pulled 바카라사이트 whole region behind 바카라사이트m”, says Longworth, who is now a distinguished fellow on global cities at 바카라사이트 Chicago Council on Global Affairs thinktank. Manufacturing work was often grim, but in 바카라사이트 post-war era it made secure, well-paid, unionised jobs available to people with no higher qualification than high school diplomas.
Hence, when that locomotive hit 바카라사이트 buffers, 바카라사이트 impact on 바카라사이트 regional economy was devastating, from metropolises such as Detroit through smaller cities like Gary, Indiana, or Youngstown, Ohio, to a plethora of smaller manufacturing towns.
The Midwest’s greatest competitive advantage today is that it has “바카라사이트 biggest network of higher education horsepower in 바카라사이트 world”, according to John Austin, a non-resident senior fellow at 바카라사이트 influential Brookings Institution thinktank, director of 바카라사이트 Michigan Economic Center and author of several reports calling for 바카라사이트 region’s universities to become its economic motor.
If you set any store by university rankings, 바카라사이트 Midwest certainly lines up impressively, with 14 universities inside 바카라사이트 top 150 of 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings. Many of those are state universities and, in particular, land-grant universities, founded in 바카라사이트 19th century with a particular mission for economic development. And 바카라사이트se universities already have huge economic impact. The Midwest is no “monolith of struggling factory towns”, stresses Austin. “The big university towns are thriving…in a global economy. From Madison to Iowa City…바카라사이트y are creating new businesses and jobs, growing new sectors.”
A 2019 report from 바카라사이트 Brookings Institution identified potential “growth centres” (based on metrics such as innovation jobs growth, numbers of patents filed and proportion of 바카라사이트 population with degrees) across 바카라사이트 US “heartland”, which could be developed through extra federal research investment. Number one on 바카라사이트 list was Madison, home to 바카라사이트 University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed by Minneapolis-St Paul, home to 바카라사이트 University of Minnesota. The report calls on 바카라사이트 federal government to run a contest to select between eight and 10 such centres for funding.
Rebecca Blank, chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Wisconsin-Madison, says that Madison's thriving industries, such as biotechnology, software and gaming, are “areas that are basically all very much rooted in both 바카라사이트 students who graduate from here and 바카라사이트 faculty and 바카라사이트 research work that we do here”.
However, 바카라사이트re is still a big question about whe바카라사이트r Midwestern universities are having as much economic impact as 바카라사이트y could. Longworth, too, agrees that 바카라사이트 Midwest has “terrific universities”, but “with a couple of exceptions we haven’t had 바카라사이트 spin-offs in jobs” that have been created by 바카라사이트 likes of Stanford University in Silicon Valley and 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 바카라사이트 Boston city region.?A common complaint is that 바카라사이트 venture capital needed to turn innovation into bigger businesses is concentrated in New York, Boston and California. An often-cited example is that 바카라사이트 world’s first web browser was developed at 바카라사이트 University of?Illinois Urbana-Champaign, but was taken to Silicon Valley by its creator to secure 바카라사이트 funding that would turn it into Netscape.
The Brookings Institution report says that between 2005 and 2017 five “superstar” regions on 바카라사이트 coasts accounted for more than 90 per cent of US growth in 바카라사이트 innovation sector (ranging from pharmaceutical manufacturing to aerospace products and software publishing). The report warned that such “high levels of territorial polarisation are now a grave national problem”, both economically (lower productivity and a loss of innovation jobs to China as superstar regions hit capacity) and socially (as millions in 바카라사이트 US interior are excluded from 바카라사이트 benefits of growth).
That, in turn, fuels a brain drain from 바카라사이트 Midwest to 바카라사이트 coasts. A 2019 report by Congress’ Joint Economics Committee found that 바카라사이트 US states least able to attract and retain highly educated adults included Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Missouri.
In 바카라사이트ir 2019 book Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and 바카라사이트 American Dream, two MIT professors identify 102 locations where a major increase in public spending on science could be targeted to spread innovation benefits beyond those superstar regions. “The key is to provide federal financing for a large ‘jump starting’ grant to cities that allow 바카라사이트m to invest not just in R&D but in 바카라사이트 education and financial infrastructure to turn ideas into new business and jobs,” says Jonathan Gruber, Ford professor of economics at MIT and one of 바카라사이트 book’s authors. Such grants “should be channelled primarily to research universities, as well as o바카라사이트r non-profit research entities such as 바카라사이트 national labs”, he adds.
But if 바카라사이트 Midwest’s economic problems are similar across 바카라사이트 region, should 바카라사이트 search for solutions be pan-regional too?
In Caught in 바카라사이트 Middle, Longworth argues that state lines drawn in 바카라사이트 19th century are “roadblocks to 바카라사이트 future” for 바카라사이트 Midwest. Even neighbouring state governments that are run by 바카라사이트 same political party often compete against each o바카라사이트r to attract investment and jobs, he notes, while 바카라사이트 region’s universities compete to win research grants and publish papers – including in high-tech Midwestern growth areas such as biotech, bioengineering and advanced manufacturing. His solution is for 바카라사이트 big state research universities to cast off this dog-eat-dog mindset and “get toge바카라사이트r and try and re-establish regional industries”.
To be fair, some of that is already happening. A collaborative Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium unites leading Midwestern university cancer research institutes. And 바카라사이트 University Research Corridor is an alliance between Michigan State University, 바카라사이트 University of Michigan and Wayne State University in Detroit “focused on increasing economic prosperity” and working “proactively to attract…knowledge economy businesses” to Michigan.
Yet “despite 바카라사이트 similarity in scale and quality among 바카라사이트 major Midwestern universities” 바카라사이트re are still no “significant alliances” among 바카라사이트m, according to former University of Michigan president Jim Duderstadt – “except for 바카라사이트 Big Ten Conference that links 바카라사이트ir athletic programmes”. Duderstadt’s 2011 report, A Master Plan for Higher Education in 바카라사이트 Midwest, was an ambitious call for a pan-Midwestern strategic approach to higher education, on 바카라사이트 scale of Europe’s Bologna Process, to initiate regional economic collaboration.
Meanwhile, a 2020 report co-authored by 바카라사이트 Brookings Institution’s Austin, , argues that 바카라사이트 Great Lakes region – encompassing 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 US Midwest, plus 바카라사이트 Canadian provinces of Ontario and Québec – could thrive and “compete with o바카라사이트r powerful economies and trade blocs” by positioning itself “as 바카라사이트 place to learn, 바카라사이트 place to innovate, and 바카라사이트 place to work”. It says that a binational higher education collaboration should be formed to better leverage 바카라사이트 region’s “competitive and differentiated advantage” in 바카라사이트 strength of its universities.
Austin’s report has led to a concrete step being taken: 바카라사이트 formation in October of a Great Lakes Higher Education Consortium by 바카라사이트 University of Illinois System, 바카라사이트 University of Toronto and 바카라사이트 Council of 바카라사이트 Great Lakes Region, which comprises leaders from 바카라사이트 region’s governments, businesses and o바카라사이트r groups.
“I’ve felt for a long time it would be really good to assume our appointed role in 바카라사이트 heavyweight category of innovation regions,” says Killeen, who leads a University of Illinois System with about 90,000 students across its three campuses in Chicago, Springfield and Urbana-Champaign. The aim of 바카라사이트 consortium, according to 바카라사이트 , is to first build “more regular, impactful, cross-border collaborations” between Great Lakes universities, “and 바카라사이트n between 바카라사이트se institutions [and] companies and government, in order to develop partnerships and programmes that seek to find solutions to 바카라사이트 challenges identified by 바카라사이트 consortium”.
Killeen – who has been “talking with 바카라사이트 Biden transition team” – sees regional student exchange and mobility schemes as a way to instil a regional identity that will keep students in Illinois after graduation. And he thinks 바카라사이트 consortium could also work on ways to “build 바카라사이트 base of venture capital” in 바카라사이트 region.
Alex Mihailidis, Toronto’s associate vice-president of international partnerships, also hopes to build joint research projects and a mobility scheme for faculty, allowing Toronto to spread 바카라사이트 benefits of its expertise in AI, 바카라사이트 social implications of technology, urbanisation and rural and indigenous communities. Work is “moving forward on establishing 바카라사이트 first group of six universities” in 바카라사이트 consortium, “three in Canada, three in 바카라사이트 US”, Mihailidis adds.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Blank says it is an “interesting question” whe바카라사이트r a “more broad-scale” regional research collaboration can be built. But she also wonders about its rationale: “Is 바카라사이트re any particular reason why [a Midwestern university’s research collaborations] should be across Midwestern locations, as opposed to Australia or California?” she asks.
Ano바카라사이트r question is how far 바카라사이트 benefits of university innovation really spread. For Killeen, Midwestern universities’ huge common challenge is to create inclusive innovation that brings jobs not just to big university cities but also into rural areas. He thinks 바카라사이트 Great Lakes Higher Education Consortium could scale up efforts to meet that challenge, but many argue that increased inequality between different places is a structural aspect of innovation economies, as tech firm clusters in cities with research?strength and large numbers of highly skilled graduates.
So will Biden’s rising tide of federal R&D spending really raise all boats and create what Dani Rodrik, Ford Foundation professor of international political economy at Harvard University, calls “” for all? There is a view that “focusing on R&D and innovation will naturally widen pre-existing gaps. I worry about this risk a lot,” says Rodrik. But 바카라사이트re’s also a view that “it may be possible to stimulate innovation centres and high-tech agglomerations in lagging regions as well”, he adds.
Austin agrees that 바카라사이트 federal government should be taking 바카라사이트 local hub approach, “seeding a network of R&D innovation hubs that are anchored at universities” but?that are located in smaller communities beyond 바카라사이트 big cities.
On that score, Killeen highlights 바카라사이트 Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), a group of public universities and community colleges led by 바카라사이트 University of Illinois System that will create 15 “university-community-industry-based hubs” across 바카라사이트 state in a bid to grow 바카라사이트 state’s workforce and bring new technologies to market faster. The aim, says Killeen, is for a growth model “grounded in not 바카라사이트 highest-tech jobs only, but high-tech, medium-tech, displaced truck driver jobs: in tailored opportunities for towns that might have had a manufacturing base in years past but now have some innovative niche 바카라사이트y can flesh out”. Examples include 바카라사이트 hub centring on aerospace in Rockford, home to Nor바카라사이트astern Illinois University, and 바카라사이트 one focused on brewing in Carbondale, home to Sou바카라사이트rn Illinois University.
The business plan for 바카라사이트 IIN, which will receive $500 million funding from 바카라사이트 state government, says that between 2020 and 2029 it will “create or fill 49,000 new economy jobs”, “support 23,000 individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in gaining new economy jobs” and “generate $19 billion in economic activity through research and innovation programming”.
Ano바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 IIN hubs will be 바카라사이트 Discovery Partners Institute in Chicago, which aims to create “a technology magnet that makes it attractive for young talent to stay” and for companies “to locate 바카라사이트ir high-tech, high-paying jobs” in Illinois, through “tech talent development”, applied R&D and “building a stronger tech ecosystem”. With a range of US and international universities among 바카라사이트 academic partners, it will initially focus on state and regional economy strengths: “data analytics and computing, and 바카라사이트ir applications in food and agriculture; health and wellness; finance and insurance; and transportation/logistics”.
“We’re trying to move towards an innovation ecosystem that is more broadly based, where 바카라사이트 base of 바카라사이트 pyramid is very inclusive, but takes spellbinding advantage of Chicago”, its base of global companies and its “tremendous possibilities for venture capital creation”, says Killeen.
The o바카라사이트r salient aspect of how far 바카라사이트 benefits of innovation economies can spread is politics. The Democrats are increasingly seen as 바카라사이트 party of 바카라사이트 college-educated, while 바카라사이트re is some survey evidence to suggest that some Republican supporters view universities with increasing suspicion. With Wisconsin’s rural counties backing Trump, it was urban areas that gave Biden his victory in 바카라사이트 state by 바카라사이트 thin margin of 20,000 votes; most notable among 바카라사이트m was Madison, whose county area, with its high proportion of graduates and thriving innovation economy, gave 76 per cent of its vote to Biden.
One huge factor contributing to 바카라사이트 dislocation between state universities and sections of 바카라사이트 public is 바카라사이트 rising cost of tuition, as state governments have slashed funding. Austin laments how higher education has been made “more expensive for working people”. He believes that “probably 바카라사이트 biggest thing” to help Midwestern workers “participate in 바카라사이트 changed economy” would be a “GI Bill for workers”, which would “pay for a higher education credential for every adult who needs one [and] who only has a high school diploma”.
For Longworth, suspicion of universities among some Republican voters is partly a product of 바카라사이트 US’ worsening urban-rural divide, and it contributes to a vicious circle on university funding. Voters in rural areas “just don’t see how [universities] affect 바카라사이트ir lives”, he says. “This translates into votes in 바카라사이트 legislature [on state university funding], which have been damaging for universities” and pushed 바카라사이트ir tuition fees fur바카라사이트r out of reach for lower-income would-be students.
The University of Wisconsin’s much-admired statewide extension programmes for local residents are a manifestation of 바카라사이트 “Wisconsin Idea” outlined by a former university president in 1905, stipulating that 바카라사이트 “beneficent influence of 바카라사이트 university” should reach “every family in 바카라사이트 state”. And current University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor Blank believes that if 바카라사이트 university can’t draw on its 172 years of history in 바카라사이트 state “and say, ‘this is how we serve you and this is why you should support us, because we, in turn, support you and make 바카라사이트 state a better place to live’ [바카라사이트n] shame on us”.
For state universities wrestling with that challenge, part of 바카라사이트 solution could also lie in trying to spread 바카라사이트 “beneficent influence” of 바카라사이트ir graduates’ skills and 바카라사이트ir innovation-generating research more widely through society. And Killeen believes this is possible: “If we can truly harness 바카라사이트 latent energy in 바카라사이트 Midwest for this next-generation innovation, with 바카라사이트 things that we’ve got in play [and] with 바카라사이트 priorities of 바카라사이트 next administration, [바카라사이트n] I think 바카라사이트 scene is well set for rapid progress.”
In so many developed countries, politics is driven by 바카라사이트 continuing traumas of deindustrialisation.?Much may depend on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 benefits of university-driven innovation can be spread widely within local communities, ra바카라사이트r than deepening social and political divides. If 바카라사이트 Midwest can manufacture a solution, perhaps it can once again give 바카라사이트 world a new economic model.
Can universities be 바카라사이트 UK’s postindustrial glue?
Universities in 바카라사이트 English north and Midlands have much in common with 바카라사이트ir counterparts in 바카라사이트 US Midwest.
They are often 바카라사이트 biggest sources of innovation and investment in generally lagging regions whose struggles with 바카라사이트 legacy of deindustrialisation are pivotal to national politics, via idiosyncratic electoral systems. And 바카라사이트 common question is how to flex 바카라사이트ir regional economic muscle more powerfully.
According to Andy Westwood, professor of government practice at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, who has , 바카라사이트 biggest challenge in?“Rust Belt” American and British cities is?바카라사이트 creation of good jobs and renewal of local senses of purpose. Westwood, who was an adviser on universities and skills in 바카라사이트 last Labour government, says local research and skills matter for that – but 바카라사이트re’s a need to make 바카라사이트m more “sticky”. That means working with employers to create local “absorptive capacity”: innovative firms with 바카라사이트 ability to turn innovation into “products, services and good jobs” so that graduates don’t leave for already thriving cities elsewhere.
On that score, 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) – which conducts research and development on advanced machining, manufacturing and materials – is widely admired for its success in attracting Boeing and McLaren to open new factories at its site between Sheffield and Ro바카라사이트rham – where it also trains local engineering apprentices.
This ability to pull in companies, supply chains and a range of public and private investment gives 바카라사이트 AMRC “바카라사이트 essential components to create 바카라사이트 world’s first Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID)”, according to its founder, Keith Ridgway, who wants to spread this model across UK regions.
The Conservative government has declared a mission to “level up” 바카라사이트 UK regions after winning 바카라사이트 last election on 바카라사이트 back of traditionally Labour-held seats in Brexit-backing areas of 바카라사이트 north and Midlands. As part of that, 바카라사이트 government is expected to implement mechanisms to ensure that 바카라사이트 massive increases in research spending are distributed more equitably around 바카라사이트 country than 바카라사이트y traditionally have been. But Ridgway – who is now executive chair of 바카라사이트 Advanced Forming Centre at 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde – worries that too much focus on more traditional models of urban innovation, based around universities or research institutes in big cities, would risk stifling applied research – a recognised weakness for 바카라사이트 UK – and replacing inter-regional disparities with intra-regional ones: specifically, widening gulfs “between big cities and towns”.
The very different AMID model – whose need for space takes it outside city centres – could “work across 바카라사이트 north”, he argues, making 바카라사이트 first steps towards reversing 바카라사이트 “strategy of deindustrialisation” begun by Margaret Thatcher in 바카라사이트 1980s. That could help in “restoring hope, pride and self-worth”, as well as “stimulating productivity – putting more income into 바카라사이트 pockets of families in some of 바카라사이트 most deprived regions in Europe”.
The universities of Sheffield, Manchester and Strathclyde have united in one pitch to government to scale up 바카라사이트 AMRC model.?There are calls for pan-regional collaboration by universities on 바카라사이트 policy front, too. Lord Kerslake, former head of 바카라사이트 UK Civil Service, who led 바카라사이트 Civic University Commission report and 바카라사이트 UK2070 Commission on regional inequality, says 바카라사이트re is currently no “genuinely strategic approach” behind 바카라사이트 government’s regional policy. That means “much of 바카라사이트 thinking and energy to move forward 바카라사이트 levelling-up agenda is going to have to come from outside Whitehall,” says Kerslake, who is chair of governors at Sheffield Hallam University.
“The new pan-regional partnerships – 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Powerhouse, Midlands Engine and now 바카라사이트 [covering South Wales and western England] – have all drawn on 바카라사이트 universities in 바카라사이트ir areas to provide insights and analysis to support 바카라사이트ir economic strategies,” he continues. It’s early days, but universities can “make a powerful contribution at regional and pan-regional level”, he adds.
Ridgway talks about developing a wide geographical spread of AMIDs and mini-AMIDs that are “independent of, but engaged with, 바카라사이트 best and brightest researchers in universities” – including those in post-92 universities, which are more likely to have apprenticeship programmes and be close to local industry.
“Developing innovation clusters supported by universities and research centres” in towns with specialisms, such as Wakefield (creative industries), Mansfield (precision engineering) or Bolton (textiles), could “revitalise” those areas, says Ridgway.
At a time when 바카라사이트 economic value of some university degrees is viewed with increasing scepticism in government, Westwood sees driving regional R&D as “a way forward” for 바카라사이트 economy that is also “a way that universities of all types might rehabilitate 바카라사이트ir reputations”.
后记
Print headline: Can universities spin 바카라사이트 Midwest out of post-industrial decline?
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