Tag Archives: UK economy

16 Years On: Was I Right About the UK’s Industry and Innovation Imbalance?

Exactly sixteen years on from my 2009 article on the UK’s economic imbalance, I reflect on how services continue to dominate GDP, while manufacturing still punches above its weight in R&D. I was right about the R&D gap — but missed the rise of intangible capital and startup-led innovation. Cybersecurity emerged as both a strategic asset and an innovation driver. Government efforts have been patchy, and real balance remains elusive. The future lies in resilience, not symmetry.

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Industry contributions to the UK economy and investment in R&D; by industry

A critical look at the imbalance in the UK economy, highlighting the disproportionate contribution of the services sector to GDP and the overconcentration of R&D investment in manufacturing. It warns that this structural imbalance makes the UK vulnerable to economic shocks and calls for a more diverse and innovation-driven industrial strategy.

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