The Green Book

Abstract

The Green Book is a key guidance document used by the UK Government for over half a century to inform the appraisal and evaluation of public investments. This contribution assesses the use of the Green Book in appraising sub-national applications for UK central government funding. It discusses the role of the Green Book in the assessment of sub-national applications for central government funding. It then moves on to examine its strengths and weaknesses, followed by an examination of what may be learnt from international practices of central government appraisals of place-based funding applications.

This report is for the Improving Public Funding Allocations to Reduce Geographical Inequalities project funded by the ESRC.

The project brings together a highly experienced interdisciplinary team from the Universities of Birmingham, Bristol, De Montfort, Newcastle, Nottingham, Plymouth and Sheffield, together with the National Centre for Social Research and Metro Dynamics.