Our aim and mission
Regional economic intelligence on Wales and seeking to improve knowledge of the opportunities and challenges facing the contemporary economy.
What we do
- Provide economic analysis on all aspects of the Welsh economy.
- Provide economic research and evaluation expertise for a wide range of Welsh firms, organisations and third sector.
- Undertake regional economic modelling of the Welsh economy.
- Publish the Welsh Economic Review which provides a forum for analysis of the regional economy.
- Engage with collaborators in our research including public, private and third sectors.
How we do it
- Varied economic research methods, including quantitative and qualitative research methods.
- Engagement with economic statistics on the Welsh economy, and production of statistics for our collaborators.
- Partnership links with industry and government established over 30 years of regional working.
- Grant funding from UKRI, regional government, industry and the third sector.
Research
Welsh Economic Review
The Unit produces, administers and publishes the Welsh Economic Review, which has now been active for more than 30 years. The Welsh Economic Review provides commentary and analysis of the Welsh economy in a manner that promotes understanding and informs decision-making and is a vehicle to engage with the Welsh business and academic community.
Current material in the Welsh Economic Review for Volume 30 2025 is available open access at Welsh Economic Review (cardiffuniversitypress.org)
Access back copies of the Welsh Economic Review.
Welsh Government Tidal Lagoon Challenge project
The Welsh Government Tidal Lagoon Challenge project is led by Cardiff University. We address the objectives of the Challenge Fund by examining potential financing and ownership options for novel tidal range renewables on the coast of Wales.
Work Package 1 Report
Electricity Generation Infrastructure in Wales: Ownership, financing and regulation
Work Package 2 Report
Work Package 3 Discussion Report
Quantifying the Impact of Tidal Lagoon Funding and Ownership
Superfast Broadband Project
We undertook research on the economic benefits associated with the take-up of superfast, broadband-enabled technologies by businesses in Wales. Our research was aimed at helping maximise take-up and exploitation of superfast broadband-enabled services as well as assessing the economic impact of these services.
Find out more about our Superfast Broadband Project.
Collaborative research
WERU is part of the world’s first Social Science Research Park at Cardiff University.
Economic Intelligence Wales
The Welsh Economy Research Unit works in partnership with the Development Bank of Wales, the Office for National Statistics, Bangor Business School, and the Enterprise Research Centre. Economic Intelligence Wales collates and analyses data to create independent, robust and reliable insight to help better understand and improve the Welsh economy.
Recent analysis and reports are available at:
Economic Intelligence Wales | Development Bank of Wales
CSconnected Research and Evaluation
The UK Government has announced the first wave of funding through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund in which a major £43.74M project with South Wales’ compound semiconductor cluster has been approved and will be supported by £25.44M funding from Strength in Places.
The project “CSConnected”, is based around integrating research excellence with the unique regional supply chains in advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing. WERU is leading on developing economic data to support the project outcomes and to assist in the evaluation of project outcomes. Further details of the CSconnected activity is available at CSconnected – Driving tomorrow's technologies
Meet the team
Co-ordinator
Academic staff
Publications
- Abreu, M. , Comim, F. and Jones, C. 2022. A capability-approach perspective on Levelling Up. [Online].SocArXiv. (10.31235/osf.io/qjau5)Available at: https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/qjau5.
- Abreu, M. , Comim, F. and Jones, C. 2024. A capability-approach perspective on regional development. Regional Studies 58 (11), pp.208-2220. (10.1080/00343404.2023.2276332)
- Cai, W. et al. 2023. Covid-19 Welsh Government financial interventions: An analysis of administrative and beneficiary survey data. Project Report.[Online].Wrexham: Economic Intelligence Wales Ltd. Available at: https://developmentbank.wales/sites/default/files/2023-01/EIW%20Bespoke%20Report%20Jan2023%20Covid-19%20intervention.pdf.
- De Angelis, R. et al. 2025. Conceptualising circular tourism: taking a place-based eco-system perspective. Journal of Circular Economy 3 (1), pp.1-19. (10.55845/TVUZ5672)
- Delbridge, R. , Henderson, D. and Morgan, K. 2025. Innovating innovation in the periphery: new roles for universities and public actors. In: Abdul-Rahman, et al., Innovations in Innovation Policy. Geography, Planning and Tourism 2025 Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. , pp.92-105. (10.4337/9781035322206.00013)
- Hashemi Monfared, S. A. et al. 2024. Surface water quality modelling with data scarcity in semi-enclosed coastal regions encompassed distributed islands. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 302 108778. (10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108778)
- Henderson, D. 2024. 5G Wales unlocked.. Welsh Economic Review 29 , pp.29-35. (10.18573/wer.269)
- Henderson, D. 2023. Boundary work in the regional innovation policy mix: SME digital technology diffusion policies in Wales. Science and Public Policy 50 (3), pp.548-558. (10.1093/scipol/scad006)
- Henderson, D. and Morgan, K. 2025. Rural innovation and the green transition: The role of Further Education Colleges. Journal of Rural Studies 114 103565. (10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103565)
- Henderson, D. , Morgan, K. and Delbridge, R. 2024. Mundane innovation in the periphery: the foundational economy in a less developed region. Regional Studies 58 (11), pp.2146-2157. (10.1080/00343404.2024.2320769)
- Henderson, D. , Morgan, K. and Delbridge, R. 2024. Putting missions in their place: micro missions and the role of universities in delivering challenge-led innovation. Regional Studies 58 (1), pp.208-219. (10.1080/00343404.2023.2176840)
- Henderson, D. et al. 2022. 5G Wales unlocked observatory: final report. Technical Report.
- Huggins, R. et al. 2023. Entrepreneurial ecosystems, agency and regional development: Emergence and new path creation in the Cardiff city region. Local Economy 38 (6), pp.538-561. (10.1177/02690942241237779)
- Huggins, R. et al. 2023. Competition, open innovation and growth challenges in the semiconductor Industry: The case of Europe's clusters. Science and Public Policy 50 (3), pp.531-547. (10.1093/scipol/scad005)
- Huggins, R. et al. 2022. The future of Europe’s semiconductor industry: Innovation, clusters and deep tech. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: CSconnected. Available at: https://csconnected.com/media/ezlhpdhz/huggins-johnston-munday-xu-the-future-of-europes-semiconductor-industry.pdf.
- Jones, C. 2023. Can't get there from here? The challenges of innovation and transformation in Wales. Ekonomiaz 104 , pp.186-205.
- Jones, C. 2022. Community carbon footprints and the climate transition: an initial assessment for Treherbert. Other. Socarxiv. Available at: https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/qahb8/.
- Jones, C. 2023. Cymru Yfory: Incrementalism or transformation for the regional economy?. Revue Française de Civilisation Britannique 28 (3)(10.4000/rfcb.11289)
- Jones, C. 2022. From despair to where? Can the future generations act create a sustainable Wales?. Regions 12
- Jones, C. 2022. Input-Output tables for Wales, 2019: Project report and outline methodology. Technical Report.
- Jones, C. 2024. Steeltown's end? The closure of the Tata Port Talbot blast furnaces. Project Report.Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Jones, C. 2022. The carbon baseline of Merthyr Valley homes 1: operational spending. Technical Report.
- Jones, C. 2023. The carbon baseline of Merthyr Valley Homes: 2 - Homes. Technical Report.
- Jones, C. 2023. The carbon footprint and decarbonisation (or not) of tourism: insights from environmentally-extended regional input output analysis. Working paper. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Jones, C. 2024. The carbon footprint of regional tourism trips: insights from environmentally extended regional input output analysis. Journal of Sustainable Tourism 32 (8), pp.1605-1620. (10.1080/09669582.2023.2254949)
- Jones, C. 2022. The economic impact of Merthyr Valley Homes. Technical Report.
- Jones, C. 2022. The triumph of the placeless. [Online].SocArXiv. (10.31235/osf.io/hzfk9)Available at: https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/hzfk9.
- Jones, C. 2024. The triumph of the placeless. Regional Studies 58 (3), pp.654-667. (10.1080/00343404.2023.2236638)
- Jones, C. 2024. Y Pair Dyfodol - A new cauldron for Welsh Innovation. The Welsh Agenda 2024 (16 Jan)
- Jones, C. and Henderson, D. 2022. Industry 4.0 and value creation in the future city. Working paper. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Lang, M. et al. 2024. Covid-19 Welsh Government financial interventions: Final analysis of administrative and beneficiary survey data. Project Report.[Online].Wrexham: Economic Intelligence Wales. Available at: https://developmentbank.wales/sites/default/files/2024-05/EIW%20Bespoke%20Report%20April2024%20Covid-19%20intervention_ENG_Accessibility1.pdf.
- Lang, M. et al. 2024. Economic Intelligence Wales: Annual report. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: Economic Intelligence Wales. Available at: https://developmentbank.wales/sites/default/files/2024-09/EIW%20Annual%20Report%202024%20ENG_ACCESSIBLE_V1%202.pdf.
- McKinley, E. et al. 2024. The human dimensions of harmful algal blooms: An evolving research agenda. Ocean & Coastal Management 259 107432. (10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107432)
- Munday, M. et al. 2024. The transformative potential of inward investment on industrial cluster development: The case of the semiconductor industry in Wales. European Planning Studies 32 (7), pp.1594-1612. (10.1080/09654313.2024.2319704)
- Munday, M. et al. 2024. Annual Report: Compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: Welsh Economy Research Unit. Available at: https://csconnected.com/media/trijjr3n/csconnected-sipf-weru-annual-report-2023.pdf.
- Munday, M. , Reynolds, L. and Roberts, A. 2023. Re-appraising ‘in-process’ benefits of strategic infrastructure improvements: Capturing the unexpected socio-economic impacts for lagging regions. Transport Policy 134 , pp.119-127. (10.1016/j.tranpol.2023.02.012)
- Munday, M. et al. 2023. Economic Intelligence Wales: Annual report. September 2023. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: Economic Intelligence Wales. Available at: https://developmentbank.wales/sites/default/files/2023-09/EIW%20Annual%20Report%202023%20ENG_ACCESSBILITY_V1.pdf.
- Munday, M. 2022. Economic effects linked to the development of the Pembroke New Zero centre. Project Report.[Online].Swindon: Cardiff Business School and RWE. Available at: https://uk-ireland.rwe.com/-/media/RWE/RWE-UK/downloads/innovation/rwe-report-pembroke-centre.pdf.
- Munday, M. et al. 2022. CSconnected: Does CS cluster inward investment improve regional economic prospects?. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: CSconnected. Available at: https://csconnected.com/media/utkj4qir/csconnected_inward-investment_cardiff-business-school-report.pdf#:~:text=The%20evidence%20suggests%20that%20the%20CS%20cluster%20has,potentially%20better%20placed%20to%20generate%20local%20economic%20transformation..
- Munday, M. et al. 2025. Annual Report: Compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales 2024. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: CSconnected/ Welsh Economy Research Unit.. Available at: https://csconnected.com/media/t52dosq5/weru-csconnected-sipf-2024-annual-report.pdf.
- Munday, M. , Huggins, R. and Roberts, A. 2022. Annual Report: Compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales January 2022. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: CSconnected. Available at: https://csconnected.com/media/ryunhxaa/csconnected-annual-report-cardiff-university-business-school.pdf.
- Munday, M. , Roberts, A. and Roche, N. 2022. Covid-19 Welsh Government financial interventions: An analysis of administrative and beneficiary survey data. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: Economic Intelligence Wales. Available at: https://developmentbank.wales/sites/default/files/2022-09/EIW%20Bespoke%20Report%202022%20Covid-19%20intervention_ENGLISH-v4.pdf.
- Munday, M. et al. 2022. Economic Intelligence Wales Annual report September 2022. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: Economic Intelligence Wales. Available at: https://developmentbank.wales/sites/default/files/2022-11/Annual%20report%202021_22%20Economic%20Intelligence%20Wales_0.pdf.
- Perry, W. B. et al. 2024. Addressing the challenges of combined sewer overflows. Environmental Pollution 343 123225. (10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123225)
- Pickernell, D. et al., 2024. Max headroom: making time and space for Welsh manufacturing SMEs to flourish. Welsh Economic Review 29 , pp.17-28. (10.18573/wer.268)
- Reynolds, L. 2023. COVID-19 and the participatory place branding impasse: a study of actor agency. Journal of Place Management and Development 16 (4), pp.561-576. (10.1108/JPMD-10-2022-0099)
- Reynolds, L. et al. 2023. Engagement and estrangement: A "tale of two cities" for Bristol’s green branding. European Journal of Marketing 57 (9), pp.2432-2458. (10.1108/EJM-08-2021-0602)
- Reynolds, L. et al. 2022. Competing for legitimacy in the place branding process: (re)negotiating the stakes. Tourism Management 91 104532. (10.1016/j.tourman.2022.104532)
- Reynolds, L. et al. 2024. There’s a time and place: Navigating omni-temporality in the place branding process. Journal of Business Research 170 114308. (10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114308)
- Zhao, T. , Matthews, K. and Munday, M. 2023. Neither true nor fairweather friend: relationship banking and SME borrowing under Covid-19. European Journal of Finance 29 (16), pp.1957-1974. (10.1080/1351847X.2022.2092415)
Resources
CCR Innovation Report
The innovative capacity of Welsh local authority areas: Introducing an innovation scorecard and some preliminary comparative findings.
If this document cannot be read by your assistive software, you can request an accessible version by emailing web@cardiff.ac.uk. Please include the assistive tools you use and the format you require.
CCR Innovation Report Summary
CCR Innovation Scorecard Summary
EU Transition - Trade Prospects for Key Welsh Sectors
The Input-Output Tables for Wales 2007
CCR Innovation Report Summary
CCR Innovation Scorecard Summary
EU Transition - Trade Prospects for Key Welsh Sectors
The Input-Output Tables for Wales 2007
Next steps
Research that matters
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