Mia Gray
@mia-gray.bsky.social
Professor of economic geography at the University of Cambridge. Researches austerity, labour, debt, gender & sustainable regional economies. Keen gardener.
Pinned
Mia Gray
@mia-gray.bsky.social
· May 21
Our new paper on "Place-based solidarity: Crisis, austerity and the devolution of responsibility"
authors: Coco Huggins and Mia Gray
is now available free online: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
authors: Coco Huggins and Mia Gray
is now available free online: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Mia Gray
Are you an early career or established researcher engaged on original research intended to produce monographs, editions or studies of documents, texts or illustrations? Apply for the Neil Ker Memorial Fund 2026: https://bit.ly/4hO0Oo1
November 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Are you an early career or established researcher engaged on original research intended to produce monographs, editions or studies of documents, texts or illustrations? Apply for the Neil Ker Memorial Fund 2026: https://bit.ly/4hO0Oo1
Reposted by Mia Gray
Thousands of Starbucks workers are on strike for a living wage and better working conditions. Stand with them by boycotting Starbucks until it can strike a fair contract. sbworkersunited.org
@sbworkersunited.org
@sbworkersunited.org
Zohran Mamdani has called for a boycott of Starbucks until the company can bargain a fair contract with its striking workers. We joined members of the mayor-elect's team on the Starbucks picket line in NYC.
November 24, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Thousands of Starbucks workers are on strike for a living wage and better working conditions. Stand with them by boycotting Starbucks until it can strike a fair contract. sbworkersunited.org
@sbworkersunited.org
@sbworkersunited.org
Reposted by Mia Gray
Welcome, but will be very curious to see the details (type of playground, geography, etc.)
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves to plough millions into children's playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves to plough millions into children's playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
Reeves to plough millions into playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
A Treasury source told The Mirror: 'This funding will breathe new life into play areas across England, creating safe, exciting spaces for thousands of children'
www.mirror.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Welcome, but will be very curious to see the details (type of playground, geography, etc.)
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves to plough millions into children's playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves to plough millions into children's playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
Beatrice and Sidney Webb were the original LSE power couple, brought together by a shared interest in Trade Unions. Inderbir Bhullar traces their partnership, exploring the overlap between their private lives & their collaborative work. blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsehistory/2...
Beatrice and Sidney Webb and Trade Unions - LSE History
LSE co-founders Beatrice and Sidney Webb were brought together by a shared interest in Trade Unions. Inderbir Bhullar traces the very beginning of their partnership.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
November 22, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Mia Gray
Excited to share my first PhD paper which was based on my fieldwork at @thebotanics.bsky.social and just published on @geoopenaccess.bsky.social yesterday! 🌺
PhD work by @mingcan-rong.bsky.social on the colonial legacy of cultivating scientific authority through the lens of Rhododendron @thebotanics.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1002/geo2...
doi.org/10.1002/geo2...
Cultivating Scientific Authority: A Vegetal Geography of Chinese Rhododendrons at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
The paper presents a vegetal geography of Chinese rhododendrons at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), examining the mechanisms through which RBGE's scientific authority is established in the ....
doi.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Excited to share my first PhD paper which was based on my fieldwork at @thebotanics.bsky.social and just published on @geoopenaccess.bsky.social yesterday! 🌺
Reposted by Mia Gray
Together with my Green New Deal colleagues, Colin Hines and Larry Elliott we have published a document of hope and possibility in advance of the Rachel Reeves event on Wednesday:
A Popular Budget to Fund a Social and Green New Deal.
Please read and share….
greennewdealgroup.org/press-releas...
A Popular Budget to Fund a Social and Green New Deal.
Please read and share….
greennewdealgroup.org/press-releas...
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: AT LAST, A POPULAR BUDGET FOR RACHEL REEVES — The Green New Deal Group
greennewdealgroup.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Together with my Green New Deal colleagues, Colin Hines and Larry Elliott we have published a document of hope and possibility in advance of the Rachel Reeves event on Wednesday:
A Popular Budget to Fund a Social and Green New Deal.
Please read and share….
greennewdealgroup.org/press-releas...
A Popular Budget to Fund a Social and Green New Deal.
Please read and share….
greennewdealgroup.org/press-releas...
Reposted by Mia Gray
As I slipped and slid along slushy and icy pavements on my way to the metro, it feels like it’s worth resharing the story of how Swedish cities flipped the order of snow clearance as they reflected on how gendered normal practices were:
usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/24/w...
usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/24/w...
Why Sweden Clears Snow-Covered Walkways Before Roads — Streetsblog USA
It's part of "gender-balanced" policy that reflects the fact that women walk more than men.
usa.streetsblog.org
November 20, 2025 at 11:55 AM
As I slipped and slid along slushy and icy pavements on my way to the metro, it feels like it’s worth resharing the story of how Swedish cities flipped the order of snow clearance as they reflected on how gendered normal practices were:
usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/24/w...
usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/24/w...
It was a real pleasure to write a chapter in the Handbook of Labour Geography. The editor, Andy Herod, was a joy to work with and the collection itself looks great.
www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/han...
www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/han...
Handbook of Labour Geography
‘Labour geography is now a burgeoning, cross-disciplinary field of research with all manner of practical implications. This Handbook showcases the richness and breadth of the field. Edited by a field-...
www.e-elgar.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:03 PM
It was a real pleasure to write a chapter in the Handbook of Labour Geography. The editor, Andy Herod, was a joy to work with and the collection itself looks great.
www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/han...
www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/han...
Reposted by Mia Gray
Lords say employment rights will create unemployment, but the actual evidence shows an absence of rights kills jobs.
If useless bosses can fire people without reason, that’s what damages the economy. It’s hereditary peers that need the boot.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
If useless bosses can fire people without reason, that’s what damages the economy. It’s hereditary peers that need the boot.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Out of touch’ hereditary peers criticised for voting against workers’ rights
Lords look ‘undemocratic and firmly against interest of working people’, say senior trade union and Labour figures
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Lords say employment rights will create unemployment, but the actual evidence shows an absence of rights kills jobs.
If useless bosses can fire people without reason, that’s what damages the economy. It’s hereditary peers that need the boot.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
If useless bosses can fire people without reason, that’s what damages the economy. It’s hereditary peers that need the boot.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Mia Gray
If it’s all eyes on property tax, surely the time has come for a thorough overhaul of Council tax, which is grossly unfair. Split out the service charge, fairly tax the value of residential property, the majority win or break even… www.economicsobservatory.com/what-future-...
What future for residential property taxation in Britain? - Economics Observatory
Council tax is unpopular, unfair and overdue for reform. An alternative would be to fund statutory services through central government, introduce a modest local service charge, and absorb stamp duty a...
www.economicsobservatory.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:33 PM
If it’s all eyes on property tax, surely the time has come for a thorough overhaul of Council tax, which is grossly unfair. Split out the service charge, fairly tax the value of residential property, the majority win or break even… www.economicsobservatory.com/what-future-...
Reposted by Mia Gray
"Brexit has reduced GDP by 6% to 8%"
So actually worse than 'project fear'. Great job everyone.
cc @mrjamesob.bsky.social
So actually worse than 'project fear'. Great job everyone.
cc @mrjamesob.bsky.social
Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?
November 10, 2025 at 10:40 AM
"Brexit has reduced GDP by 6% to 8%"
So actually worse than 'project fear'. Great job everyone.
cc @mrjamesob.bsky.social
So actually worse than 'project fear'. Great job everyone.
cc @mrjamesob.bsky.social
Reposted by Mia Gray
EXC: English councils will still be poorer in 2029 than they were in 2010, according to the IfG.
Report finds councils are increasingly providing social care and little else. Libraries, youth services, parks, all falling by the wayside.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Report finds councils are increasingly providing social care and little else. Libraries, youth services, parks, all falling by the wayside.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
English councils to remain poorer than in 2010 despite funding rise, says report
Exclusive: Impact of austerity cannot be undone by end of parliament despite above-inflation funding, analysis finds
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
EXC: English councils will still be poorer in 2029 than they were in 2010, according to the IfG.
Report finds councils are increasingly providing social care and little else. Libraries, youth services, parks, all falling by the wayside.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Report finds councils are increasingly providing social care and little else. Libraries, youth services, parks, all falling by the wayside.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Mia Gray
This won’t be the big thing everyone’s talking about today, but shows how little ministers believe in empowering English local government. Ministers decide where funding goes and MPs want a say in how it’s spent. Local government as delivery agents rather than instruments of local democracy.
Labour to stop Reform councils taking credit for deprivation cash
The Pride in Place fund offers up to £20 million to be allocated by respected local figures — but Labour MPs fear Nigel Farage’s influence and want a greater role
www.thetimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 AM
This won’t be the big thing everyone’s talking about today, but shows how little ministers believe in empowering English local government. Ministers decide where funding goes and MPs want a say in how it’s spent. Local government as delivery agents rather than instruments of local democracy.
Reposted by Mia Gray
We're hiring!💥
IPPR North are looking for a senior researcher who has big ideas for the future of our regions. Join us at this pivotal time for our economy and democracy.
Based in Manchester, apply by 31st October.
www.ippr.org/jobs/senior-...
IPPR North are looking for a senior researcher who has big ideas for the future of our regions. Join us at this pivotal time for our economy and democracy.
Based in Manchester, apply by 31st October.
www.ippr.org/jobs/senior-...
Senior Research Fellow, IPPR North | IPPR
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is an independent charity working towards a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society.
www.ippr.org
October 15, 2025 at 11:11 AM
We're hiring!💥
IPPR North are looking for a senior researcher who has big ideas for the future of our regions. Join us at this pivotal time for our economy and democracy.
Based in Manchester, apply by 31st October.
www.ippr.org/jobs/senior-...
IPPR North are looking for a senior researcher who has big ideas for the future of our regions. Join us at this pivotal time for our economy and democracy.
Based in Manchester, apply by 31st October.
www.ippr.org/jobs/senior-...
Reposted by Mia Gray
TOMORROW: Next talk in the Infrastructural Geographies Michaelmas Term 2025 Seminar Series will be delivered by Beth Greenhough @oxfordgeography.bsky.social 16:00-17:30 in the Large Lecture Theatre. All welcome!
October 28, 2025 at 2:38 PM
TOMORROW: Next talk in the Infrastructural Geographies Michaelmas Term 2025 Seminar Series will be delivered by Beth Greenhough @oxfordgeography.bsky.social 16:00-17:30 in the Large Lecture Theatre. All welcome!
Reposted by Mia Gray
Tonight’s (nearly) the night! The British Academy Book Prize ‘shortlist showcase’ takes place this evening (winner revealed tomorrow). Don’t miss a glimpse inside the covers of six of the best works of non-fiction… www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/livin...
British Academy Book Prize 2025 Shortlist Event
Join the shortlisted authors of this year's British Academy Book Prize for a dynamic conversation exploring the issues that define our time. These imaginative writers will share insights from their gr...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
October 21, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Tonight’s (nearly) the night! The British Academy Book Prize ‘shortlist showcase’ takes place this evening (winner revealed tomorrow). Don’t miss a glimpse inside the covers of six of the best works of non-fiction… www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/livin...
Reposted by Mia Gray
Pls share: Applications open for Summer Institute in Economic Geography, Toronto, 5-10 July 2026
Featuring: Lars Coenen, Karen Lai, Devika Narayan and Stefan Ouma
Early career economic geographers (broadly defined) are welcome to apply. Stipends available. www.econgeog.net/Toronto2026
Featuring: Lars Coenen, Karen Lai, Devika Narayan and Stefan Ouma
Early career economic geographers (broadly defined) are welcome to apply. Stipends available. www.econgeog.net/Toronto2026
Toronto 2026 | Summer Institute in Economic Geography
www.econgeog.net
October 16, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Pls share: Applications open for Summer Institute in Economic Geography, Toronto, 5-10 July 2026
Featuring: Lars Coenen, Karen Lai, Devika Narayan and Stefan Ouma
Early career economic geographers (broadly defined) are welcome to apply. Stipends available. www.econgeog.net/Toronto2026
Featuring: Lars Coenen, Karen Lai, Devika Narayan and Stefan Ouma
Early career economic geographers (broadly defined) are welcome to apply. Stipends available. www.econgeog.net/Toronto2026
Reposted by Mia Gray
Reminder for this #AAG2026 session. Abstracts due October 20th!
📢 CFP | AAG 2026, San Francisco
Crisis between the Ordinary and Eventful: Housing, Material Conditions, and Everyday Urbanism
In many cities, crisis isn’t rupture—it’s everyday life.
Evictions, debt, precarity, housing struggles.
But also repair, care, solidarity.
@geographers.bsky.social #geosky
Crisis between the Ordinary and Eventful: Housing, Material Conditions, and Everyday Urbanism
In many cities, crisis isn’t rupture—it’s everyday life.
Evictions, debt, precarity, housing struggles.
But also repair, care, solidarity.
@geographers.bsky.social #geosky
October 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reminder for this #AAG2026 session. Abstracts due October 20th!
Reposted by Mia Gray
✨ CfP AAG 2026, San Francisco ✨
Tabea Latocha and I are teaming up feminist fabulative futures and we’d love for you to join us.
Our proposed session explores how storytelling, speculation, and fabulation can help us imagine housing otherwise — beyond ownership, extraction, and displacement. 🏡🌿💭
Tabea Latocha and I are teaming up feminist fabulative futures and we’d love for you to join us.
Our proposed session explores how storytelling, speculation, and fabulation can help us imagine housing otherwise — beyond ownership, extraction, and displacement. 🏡🌿💭
October 13, 2025 at 8:23 AM
✨ CfP AAG 2026, San Francisco ✨
Tabea Latocha and I are teaming up feminist fabulative futures and we’d love for you to join us.
Our proposed session explores how storytelling, speculation, and fabulation can help us imagine housing otherwise — beyond ownership, extraction, and displacement. 🏡🌿💭
Tabea Latocha and I are teaming up feminist fabulative futures and we’d love for you to join us.
Our proposed session explores how storytelling, speculation, and fabulation can help us imagine housing otherwise — beyond ownership, extraction, and displacement. 🏡🌿💭
Reposted by Mia Gray
Join us for 'Imagining our Working Lives: A Creative Exploration' 💭🖍🪛🧤🥄🖱
1st Nov, Central Manchester. Part of ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025.
Free to attend, places limited. Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/imagining-...
P.s. There'll be cake!🍰
With @amycbarron.bsky.social + @clarecourtney
1st Nov, Central Manchester. Part of ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025.
Free to attend, places limited. Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/imagining-...
P.s. There'll be cake!🍰
With @amycbarron.bsky.social + @clarecourtney
October 6, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Join us for 'Imagining our Working Lives: A Creative Exploration' 💭🖍🪛🧤🥄🖱
1st Nov, Central Manchester. Part of ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025.
Free to attend, places limited. Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/imagining-...
P.s. There'll be cake!🍰
With @amycbarron.bsky.social + @clarecourtney
1st Nov, Central Manchester. Part of ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025.
Free to attend, places limited. Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/imagining-...
P.s. There'll be cake!🍰
With @amycbarron.bsky.social + @clarecourtney
Reposted by Mia Gray
Debt Trap Nation: Family Homelessness in a Failing State: @kbrickell.bsky.social (@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social) and Mel Nowicki (Oxford Brookes) as part of the Infrastructural Geographies Michaelmas 2025 Seminar Series on the 22nd October, 16:00-17:30 in the Small Lecture Theatre. All welcome!
October 13, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Debt Trap Nation: Family Homelessness in a Failing State: @kbrickell.bsky.social (@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social) and Mel Nowicki (Oxford Brookes) as part of the Infrastructural Geographies Michaelmas 2025 Seminar Series on the 22nd October, 16:00-17:30 in the Small Lecture Theatre. All welcome!
Reposted by Mia Gray
Our latest @safety-nets.bsky.social project blog is out. We reflect on spatial inequalities and disability benefit reforms. And the pickle UK gov changes might create for subnational and devolved authorities.
New RSA Blog 📉
“The Growth Gamble” explores how UK welfare reform, deindustrialisation & regional divides intersect.
By Sioned Pearce, @haylesben.bsky.social, Mhairi Ross & @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social.
👉 www.regionalstudies.org/rsa-blog/202...
“The Growth Gamble” explores how UK welfare reform, deindustrialisation & regional divides intersect.
By Sioned Pearce, @haylesben.bsky.social, Mhairi Ross & @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social.
👉 www.regionalstudies.org/rsa-blog/202...
The growth gamble: Do we need to loosen the tie binding devolution with economic outcomes in England? - RSA Main
Earlier in 2025, the UK government announced a commitment to reduce spending on disability benefits by restructuring entitlements and eligibility to various health-related benefits. It claims through ...
www.regionalstudies.org
October 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Our latest @safety-nets.bsky.social project blog is out. We reflect on spatial inequalities and disability benefit reforms. And the pickle UK gov changes might create for subnational and devolved authorities.
Reposted by Mia Gray
New RSA Blog 📉
“The Growth Gamble” explores how UK welfare reform, deindustrialisation & regional divides intersect.
By Sioned Pearce, @haylesben.bsky.social, Mhairi Ross & @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social.
👉 www.regionalstudies.org/rsa-blog/202...
“The Growth Gamble” explores how UK welfare reform, deindustrialisation & regional divides intersect.
By Sioned Pearce, @haylesben.bsky.social, Mhairi Ross & @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social.
👉 www.regionalstudies.org/rsa-blog/202...
The growth gamble: Do we need to loosen the tie binding devolution with economic outcomes in England? - RSA Main
Earlier in 2025, the UK government announced a commitment to reduce spending on disability benefits by restructuring entitlements and eligibility to various health-related benefits. It claims through ...
www.regionalstudies.org
October 10, 2025 at 12:34 PM
New RSA Blog 📉
“The Growth Gamble” explores how UK welfare reform, deindustrialisation & regional divides intersect.
By Sioned Pearce, @haylesben.bsky.social, Mhairi Ross & @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social.
👉 www.regionalstudies.org/rsa-blog/202...
“The Growth Gamble” explores how UK welfare reform, deindustrialisation & regional divides intersect.
By Sioned Pearce, @haylesben.bsky.social, Mhairi Ross & @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social.
👉 www.regionalstudies.org/rsa-blog/202...
Reposted by Mia Gray
New: Dialogues in Urban Research exploring what it means to think about crisis as urban & how locating crisis in the urban reconfigures relations between eventful & everyday crisis politics, materiality, discourse & movement. Part of a great set of interventions.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:34 PM
New: Dialogues in Urban Research exploring what it means to think about crisis as urban & how locating crisis in the urban reconfigures relations between eventful & everyday crisis politics, materiality, discourse & movement. Part of a great set of interventions.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Mia Gray
Recurring fiscal crises afflicting U.S. municipalities are neither isolated nor accidental occurrences; rather, they constitute a deliberate political strategy engineered to achieve specific, capitalist class-based outcomes.
utahvanguard.medium.com/from-manager...
utahvanguard.medium.com/from-manager...
From Managerialism to Crisis: The Shock Doctrine of US Municipal Finance
By David Fields
utahvanguard.medium.com
October 10, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Recurring fiscal crises afflicting U.S. municipalities are neither isolated nor accidental occurrences; rather, they constitute a deliberate political strategy engineered to achieve specific, capitalist class-based outcomes.
utahvanguard.medium.com/from-manager...
utahvanguard.medium.com/from-manager...