Long abstract

About Statistics Publications & Documents Information by Country

International comparisons of economies and societies tend to be undertaken at the country level; statistics refer to gross national product, for example, while health and education levels tend similarly to be measured and debated in national terms. However, economic performance and social indicators can vary within countries as much as between countries.

In recent years regional differences in economic output, labour productivity, job creation and labour force participation within countries have been at least the double than among OECD countries. Understanding the variety in regional economic structures and performance is essential for designing effective strategies which improve regional competitiveness and in turn increase national growth.

OECD Regions at a Glance makes these variations visible, providing region-by region indicators – mainly in the form of graphs and maps – to identify areas that are outperforming or lagging behind. Patterns of growth and the persistence of inequalities are analyzed over time, highlighting the factors responsible for them.
OECD Regions at a Glance 2009 is organized around four major themes and a special focus on regional innovation.