In their conversation, Dr Klingler-Vidra and Lord O’Neill reflect on the global and geopolitical changes of the 20+ years since, as the then Chief Economist of Goldman Sachs, he coined the term ‘BRIC’ nations to refer to the group of Brazil, Russia, India and China as rising economic powers. They discuss China’s success in fostering innovation and its “game of two halves”, including the ways China has changed since 2001.
Looking closer to home and drawing on Lord O’Neill’s experience as one of the initiators of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ project while serving as the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, they explore the way that China has invested in infrastructure to build new metropolitan areas and economic engines. Can a similar approach be taken to fostering the revival of what Lord O’Neill calls “MANSHEFFLEEDSPOOL”, the area spanning the major nineteenth century industrial cities of Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and Liverpool?