Information systems development and the analysis of urban change.

Worrall, Les. (1987) Information systems development and the analysis of urban change. PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.

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Abstract

The two main aims of the thesis are, first, to improve our understanding of how urban systems adjust and, second, to explain how the social costs of adjustment are distributed among sub-groups within the urban system. The main stimuli to the project were the realisation that the social costs of urban adjustment tend to be concentrated upon those with the least power in the markets which operate within urban areas and the concern that much urban analysis has been undertaken without an adequate information base. Design criteria for urban information systems are developed and the thesis makes use of a unique suite of information systems, which were created to monitor the development of Telford New Town, to achieve the above aims and objectives. The period under study (1978 to 1983) was one of intense demographic, economic and social change in Telford and it is argued that the findings developed from an analysis urban problems in Telford are more generally applicable. Within the thesis, an attempt has been made to integrate theoretical and methodological developments in several areas and to apply them to the analysis of urban change. In particular, recent developments in segmented labour market theory are used as a foundation for a conceptual model of the urban labour market and a behavioural theory of the firm. Recent changes in industrial structure, employment and unemployment are examined in order to test if these changes were consistent with the expectations derived from the theoretical base. The structure of the thesis is straightforward: in Chapter Two a rationale for intervention in the urban system is developed prior to outlining a framework for urban planning and analysis. In Chapters Three, Four and Five, the objectives are to review relevant labour market theory, to develop a conceptual model of an urban labour market and to discuss the urban significance of unemployment. In Chapter Six, recent social, economic and 5lemographic change in Telford is described as a context for subsequent analysis. In Chapter Seven, a suite of local information is described. In Chapters Eight and Nine, recent change in industrial structure, employment and unemployment are analysed to test the validity of the conceptual model of the urban labour market and the related concepts developed in earlier chapters.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	23 Oct 2023 11:16
Last Modified:	23 Oct 2023 11:19
DOI:	10.17638/03176351
Copyright Statement:	Copyright © and Moral Rights for this thesis and any accompanying data (where applicable) are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge.
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3176351