Steps Towards a Realist Economic Impact Model? Reflections on the ReCreate Evaluation

This paper examines issues that arise when seeking to combine the “what works, for whom and why?” of realist evaluation with the positivist approach to economic impact assessment. The matter is of some concern,... [ view full abstract ]

This paper examines issues that arise when seeking to combine the “what works, for whom and why?” of realist evaluation with the positivist approach to economic impact assessment. The matter is of some concern, particularly in the UK, as the evaluation of economic interventions is still dominated by RCT, quasi experimental methods and a somewhat arithmetical treatment.

This paper shares the evaluation of the ReCreate Project between UK and France. The project
was a large cross-Channel initiative (funded under INTERREG IV) which aimed to boost
local economic prosperity (economic regeneration and town centre employment) by reusing derelict, vacant and semi-vacant town centre premises to develop new creative enterprise
hubs. ReCreate is a partnership of local authorities, other public bodies and the third sector
organisations situated in small and medium sized urban areas in 9 areas across South-East
England and Northern France. Each of these 9 areas has suffered the adverse effects of the
2008 economic crisis. The total budget for the project was over six million euros

The programme theory (if it can be so called) was based upon the premise that an estimated 12,000 creative enterprises, many of which are micro-enterprises, are often physically isolated, operating from home or in unsupportive environments and lacking access to specialist workspace and interaction with other creative enterprises. The intervention thus provided such spaces and the context for emerging benefits of co working, collaboration and enterprise. Further, the project sought to facilitate national and international links across the partnership and boost the number of performances, exhibitions and festivals to raise the profile of the arts in relatively bleak urban landscapes.

The evaluation team had limited time to complete its work. The method analysed what economic metrics were available from the project team and its own limited fieldwork to assess economic impact through jobs created, tourism impact and so forth. The evaluation team also used Q sort method to assess the categories of participating entrepreneurs; finding a typology of four distinctive groups of beneficiaries that can be understood in terms of what worked for whom; enabling informed conjecture on why. But how to combine the economic results and Q sort results?