Experimental estimates of rural-urban productivity

Abstract

Understanding the economic performance of rural areas is an important part of government policy. This article presents experimental estimates of productivity at the rural and urban level for England as a result of collaboration between the Office for National Statistics and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. These estimates, which are available from 2002 to 2005 and which will be produced in spring of each year, have been developed to allow policy analysts and others to better measure the economic performance of rural and urban areas in England than is possible with existing regional productivity figures, which do not provide the necessary level of detail. The article outlines the underlying methodology and presents some of the key results.