Dr Francesca Elizabeth Froy

Francesca’s research focuses on economic complexity and the spatial organisation of cities. She is interested in how urban morphology, and the spatial configuration of street networks, influences economic activities. She also explores how the current economic structure of cities reflects the historical evolution of diverse but interdependent industry sectors. Francesca has written articles for the Oxford Review of Economic Policy and European Planning Studies amongst other journals and she sits on the Editorial Board for the Local Economy Journal.

University College London

• Doctorate, Doctor of Architecture | 2021

University College London

• Other higher degree, Master of Science | 2014

University of Reading

• Other higher degree, Master of Arts | 1996

University College London

• First Degree, Bachelor of Anthropology | 1994

Francesca lectures on urban economies at the School of Planning. She is also a Research Associate of the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. Until 2015, she was a senior policy analyst at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) where she led international reviews on local policy implementation and governance. She evaluated European Commission-funded urban and regional policies based in Brussels from 2001-5 and before this worked as a local housing initiatives coordinator for Reading Borough Council. She is currently Co-investigator for an Alan Turing Institute project exploring how new infrastructure investment could further join up embedded knowledge in Northern cities.

Publications

• Froy, F (2021) ‘A marvellous order’: how spatial and economic configurations interact to produce agglomeration economies in Greater Manchester. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL Froy, F (2020), Editor) Special Edition of the Local Economy Journal on Place-based industrial strategies, SAGE Froy, F and N. Palominos (2020), The Maker-Mile in East London: case study report for the Cities of Making project in London, Brussels and Rotterdam Green, A. Froy, F. Kispeter, E.  and Sissons, P., (2017), ‘How do cities lead an inclusive growth agenda?’, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, York
• Froy, F and Davis, H. (2017), ‘Pragmatic urbanism: London’s railway arches and small-scale enterprises’, European Planning Journal, 25:11, 2076-2096
• Froy. F (2016) ‘Is new work really built from old work? And if so, what does this mean for the spatial organisation of economic activities in cities? Conference Proceedings, Jane Jacobs 100: her legacy and relevance in the 21st century ed. TU Delft
• Froy, F (2016), Understanding the spatial organisation of economic activities in early 19^th century Antwerp, The Journal of Space Syntax Vol.6, Issue 2
• Froy, F. (2013),‘Global policy developments towards industrial policy and skills: skills for competitiveness and growth’, in "Government and Business: A New Industrial Policy?" Special Edition of the Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Volume 29, Issue 2, 344–360
• Froy, F. et al (2012) Skills for Competiveness: A synthesis report, OECD LEED Working Papers Froy, F and S. Giguère (2010), Putting in place jobs that last: A guide to rebuilding quality employment at the local level, OECD LEED Working Papers Froy, F. and Giguère, S. (2010) Breaking out of policy silos, OECD Publishing, Paris Froy et al (2009) Designing Local Skills Strategies, OECD Publishing, Paris Froy, F and Giguère S (2006) From immigration to integration: local solutions to a global challenge, OECD Publishing, Paris