Over the past few years, governments have endorsed the need for a shift in regional policy approaches from top down, sectoral and redistributive subsidies towards integrated and well-targeted investment in local competitive advantages. However, the implementation of the shift has been a complex task. Urgent economic, social and environmental challenges provide renewed impetus for reform. This OECD meeting at ministerial level explored how countries can meet these challenges.
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Chair
Ms. Mari Kiviniemi Minister of Public Administration and Local Government, Finland. |
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| 'Regional policy: What governments are doing' |
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The meeting was held on 31 March 2009 at the OECD Headquarters in Paris and was held over 3 sessions as follows:
Session 1 - Regions, National Objectives and Global Challenges
Global challenges (economic crisis, climate change, ageing, migration) require decisive policy action and regional policy can play an important role.
Session 2 - Unlocking Regional Growth: Innovation and Public Goods
Globalisation has increased pressure on regions to exploit their own competitive advantages. To achieve this, they need well-functioning innovation systems and effective delivery of high quality public goods and services.
Session 3 - Mobilising Actors and Capacities for Regional Development
Unlocking regional potential requires close collaboration among actors and capacity building at all levels. Effective leadership is crucial for regional development.