Even in the most economically advanced nations we still find 'left-behind places' - areas which fail to thrive. In devising policies to address these regional inequalities, it can be difficult to identify the factors at play. Stephen Redding's research looks at German cities following the division of the country after World War 2. Differences in cities which were broadly similar before the split provide a wealth of information on the effects of changes in market access, something that is fundamental to the debate around left-behind places.
