GOVRDPC

OECD Workshop on Improving Productivity in Lagging Regions

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OECD Conference Centre, Paris, 28 June 2010

This workshop discussed the key factors that have been successful in helping lagging regions reach national standards and in particular the role regional policies have played in areas such as human capital, infrastructure, connectivity and innovation.

The workshop was part of an overall project on Growing Lagging Regions, which is an activity of the OECD International Forum on Regional Policy, as part of the Programme of Work of the Territorial Development Policy Committee (TDPC).

Opening Session: What we know about the Determinants of Regional Growth

Joaquim Oliveira Martins, OECD
Melissa Dell, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States
- Productivity differences between and within countries, co-authored with D. Acemoglu, MIT
Presentation - 'Productivity Differences Within and Between Countries'
Enrique Garcilazo, OECD,
Presentation - Presentation - Improving Productivity in Lagging Regions

Chair: Nick Vanston (OECD)

Session 1: Human Capital Skills for Future or Skills for Present?

Presentations:

Professor Philip McCann, The University of Groningen, the Netherlands
Presentation - Presentation - 'Human Capital: Skills for Today or Skills for the Future?'

Discussants:

Sverker Lindblad, Sweden
William Tompson, OECD

Session 2: Infrastructure – Accessibility or Connectivity?

Presentations:

Lewis Dijkstra, European Union
Presentation - Presentation - 'Transport Investments and Economic Growth'

Discussants:

Pierre Marcel Desjardins, University of Moncton, Canada
Presentation - 'Infrastructure – Accessibility or Connectivity?'
Kazuyasu Takeda, Japan

Session 3: Institutions and Policy Discussions

Presentations:

Claire Charbit, OECD (Working Paper will be available here shortly)

Discussants:

Duarte Rodrigues, Portugal
Presentation - 'Strengthening of the Institutional Framework: Key challenges'
Graham Garbutt, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
Presentation - 'Regional Development and Governance'
Richard Baker, The Northern Way, UK
Presentation - 'Case study: North of England'

Summary of the Rapporteur

Nick Vanston, OECD

Concluding Remarks and the Way Forward

Joaquim Oliveira Martins, OECD

Agenda 'Lagging Regions'