Contraction of the coal industry and the local economy

The coal industry has contracted significantly during the 1980s. Further decline will take place in the 1990s as a result of the privatization of the electricity supply industry (ESI), the relaxation of planning regulations on opencast mining, and increasing productivity in the pits.

This article looks at the actual and anticipated impact on local economies of this decline and considers the policy implications for those local authorities most affected by the future restructuring of the energy sector.