Professor Philip McCann, Sir Terry Leahy Chair in Urban and Regional Economics at Alliance Manchester Business School and a leading researcher at the Productivity Institute, has been awarded the Walter Isard Award for Scholarly Achievement, the highest honour given by the North American Regional Science Council.
McCann, a long-standing member and Fellow of the Regional Studies Association (FeRSA), is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading figures in regional science. He serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for Spatial Economic Analysis and Regional Studies, as well as the International Editorial Advisory Board for Regional Studies, Regional Science.
The award recognises McCann’s long-standing global contributions to regional science, including influential research on productivity gaps and regional innovation, as well as on the economic forces shaping places. Both Alliance Manchester Business School and The Productivity Institute highlighted McCann’s major impact on public policy, including his prominent role in debates around the UK’s Levelling Up agenda. His work continues to inform decisions made by governments, businesses, and international organisations.
Phil said:
“Understanding regional issues has never been more important than it is today. The regional implications of financial, economic, environmental, energy and health crises underpin the democratic challenges facing many of our societies today. A deeper awareness of regional issues is essential for helping our institutional and governance systems to better deliver the socio-economic progress that citizens desire. I hope that my years of work in these arenas has helped in this regard”.