City regions and decent work: Politics, pluralism and policy making in Greater Manchester

Despite a growing body of literature examining the politics city-regionalism, question how local actors engage with, and challenge each other in subnational regulatory space requires greater attention if we are to develop more comprehensive understanding supposedly pluralist approaches policy making. This paper critically evaluates innovations Greater Manchester (GM) that seek steer behaviour economic towards mutually reinforcing model decent work social inclusion. We argue underneath expansive political agenda GM metro mayor, what has emerged so far is relatively shallow form consensus-based neo-pluralism allows for elite consultation over issues inclusive growth responsible business rather than radically redistributive or participatory policies. The implications our changing often contradictory role state shaping regulation governance discussed.