“Britain is open for business.”
this is a phrase that comes up again and again in the media, either
as a cliché from journalists or a direct soundbite from an MP. It is
usually linked to economic reports that show growth in the UK
economy, or a piece of legislation that makes international trade
easier (or less regulated) is going ahead. The emphasis is that the
UK is a company and that that company is profitable. ...
This
is where I start to really stretch the metaphor. I want you to
picture an actual physical marketplace: perhaps your town has an
indoor market or a weekly produce market. I'll be keeping St George's
Market in Belfast in mind throughout this. Now lets start thinking
about what makes a good market and how that applies to national
economics. Just trust me and go along for the ride.
Safe and secure
A good market is somewhere where stall holders can leave their
merchandise overnight and be relatively confident that it will still
be there in the morning. During trading they don't expect to
experience much in the way of stock loss, or other significant crime.
They know that, should something be stolen or they are assaulted or
any other crime is committed that market staff and security will help
deal with the issue appropriately.
The same goes for people visiting a market. They don't want to be
mugged, or pick-pocketed. They don't want to be harassed or
assaulted. They don't want to have a stall-holder overcharge them,
refuse to give them change or steal their bank details (it's 2015,
markets have card readers). Should anything happen we want to be sure
that security or the police are involved, that our complaints are
listened to with care and diligence and that appropriate measures
will be taken. In the case of a stall-holder committing a crime
against a customer that may be a criminal charge but it may also
include a ban on future trading.
The
UK market place has a police force, a criminal justice system and a
legislature that includes dozens of regulating bodies, especially
when you start taking in to account local authorities. Now I was
raised to be fairly pro police and I have to say, by and by that
confidence remains. I am aware however, that for certain groups of
people and for certain crimes,
policing
and justice aren't always carried out fairly. Young black men for
example are more likely to be stopped and searched than any other
group. In fact racism in the UK criminal system is well reported and
documented if you want to go and read about it. In more recent years
this has extended to Asian men, and people who are not UK nationals.
There are also certain crimes which are not treated with the
sensitivity or even handedness they should be: rape and sexual
assault have some shocking statistics regarding how many cases are
taken to trial, how many end in prosecution and the length of prison
sentences handed down. Rape is also one of the few crimes were the
burden of proof falls so heavily on the shoulders of the victims and
there is an uphill struggle to even convince police that a crime has
been committed.
Policing and justice is clearly not as fair and even as it could be.
Then there are other parts of the legislature: banking regulation,
taxation, welfare and social security, wage and employment law,
immigration law (relating to the above section on diversity) which
are skewed to benefit a very small percentage of the population and
to cripple the rest. To shun, marginalise, refuse to help and at
times actively hurt large parts of your market in order to benefit a
small few. Is that actually leading to a successful market or is that
leading to a market which can't be sustained whilst a few
stallholders walk away smiling (with the credit card details of their
unrepresented customers).
Atmosphere and entertainment
The
best markets, the ones you make a special trip to, and drag your
friends to even when you don't have much cash to spend are the ones
with a great atmosphere. That can come about through
the sheer number of people, their
diversity and the variety of things
on offer, but the best, the ones that really stand out, have more. A
live band playing, stall holders who are known for their banter,
regular cooking demos, community poetry or stories, photography
competitions. Yes, these are all things I have seen in good markets.
They don't take up much space, they might seem insignificant but they
add so much to the experience. A customer who has a good time and
enjoys the market is more likely to spend more while they are there,
stay longer
at
each visit and visit more often. Arts and culture can be vital in
creating this friendly and inviting atmosphere.
In
the UK we have a
well respected film and TV industry, exporting its
products globally.
There is a centuries old tradition of live theatre and since the 19th
Century comedy has flourished. Music makes up a great part of
national and regional identity from folk tradition through Mersey
Beat, The Birmingham metal of the 70s and 80s, to the rap and dubstep
scene in London. Then there is the art, poetry, design, fashion,
debate and food that make the British populace truly passionate. As
individual acts these can make a market place flourish and,
on a national level, supporting and encouraging arts and culture can
be the difference between a successful economy and a wasteland. Arts
and culture make people happy content,
and
fulfilled and that leads to more productive workers, more output, and
a more lively economy. It makes us attractive nationally – Northern
Ireland's economy has had a boost from productions companies using
their studios, in part due to good rates, but also
because Northern Ireland has forged
a reputation for being open-minded and enthusiastic about arts and
culture. Healthy arts and culture is both conducive to and indicative
of a healthy market.
Wider benefit
Lastly,
good and successful markets aren't solely
for profit. They are places where stall holders can trade and make a
profit, and yes the
market owners
will take a profit themselves, usually by charging the stall holders
a small fee. This means that markets are great at stimulating local
economy, with numerous people profiting on different levels. But the
benefits go far beyond that. Markets are often operated by local
councils as a way of stimulating the local economy and providing a
service for both small businesses, local citizens and tourists. They
are aware of continuing heritage and commerce in a city and are often
left clinging on during times of economic hardship when other store
fronts may become too expensive for local businesses and their
customers.
Markets
generally are a focus of multinational activity, with different
migrant groups mixing together and providing opportunities for people
and products from across the globe to work side by side. In some
areas they are a service that joins city and countryside together,
bringing farmers and rural producers to a larger
market and more literally some cities will operate special bus
services on market days bringing disparate communities together. They
can be venues for community outreach, such as cafés offering classes
in nutritious cooking, or elderly socials. A Successful market is a
bustling hub,
which
attracts other businesses to an area, regenerating high streets,
filling office blocks, further boosting the economy and providing
more jobs for local people. Busy and thriving towns, and those with a
well supported arts scene via local market initiatives, attract
tourists and other visitors, eventually attracting other businesses
from further afield. A healthy, flourishing market will have healthy,
flourishing visitors and this will have a positive effect on the
wider area and population.
The
UK government needs to stop positioning itself as a single entity
open for business and start seeing the value that can
be
a thriving market. The global economic market and free market trading
might be a world away from a Saturday farmer's market but I truly
believe a lot can be learned from the basic principles
of what makes a good market and what the value of a good market is. A
successful market is about far more than profit. Yes, the books do
need to balance, but the success of a market is not just
the market owners’
bank balance but the overall
satisfaction of everybody involved in the
that market, from its
chairperson, to the stall holders, the visitors and the person who
sweeps the floor.
I'm waiting for the UK Marketplace to be open.
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