Regional, rural and urban development
Our goal is making all regions more equitable, inclusive and resilient. How? By putting well-being and living standards at the core of our place-based approach to policy and economic activity.
Tune into the virtual launch of the OECD Regional Outlook 2023 on 2 October - secure your livestream spot now!
This report explores urban planning, leveraging private investment and mobilising sustainable finance for infrastructure, accompanied by case studies showcasing innovative practices for financing the cities of tomorrow.
This report helps regional and national policymakers to understand how individual regions fare in a new global environment that continues to deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine and existing megatrends.
This OECD Recommendation outlines 10 pillars for effective regional development policy to unlock the potential of places and communities and build resilient regions around the world.
This paper assesses within-country spatial disparities in connectivity across OECD and G20 countries, using publicly available data.
This report presents an in-depth analysis of Ukraine’s progress in implementing its multi-level governance reforms and explores the role of subnational governments in disaster management.
This report identifies manufacturing activities that are particularly difficult to decarbonise and the transformations they require.
Events
Areas of work
Regional development policy - what why and how?
Disparities exist worldwide between countries – but also across regions within countries. Quality regional development policy - or place-based policy is essential for inclusive economic growth, well-being, environmental sustainability and resilience.
Place-based policies take into account the specificities of the different types of region within a country. Regions, cities and rural areas - and their differences - play a crucial role in the adaptation to megatrends (climate change, digitalisation, demographic shifts, globalisation) and their highly asymmetric impacts within OECD countries.
The OECD's Regional Development Policy Committee(RDPC) designs and implements effective place-based policies to improve living standards and well-being for citizens across all regions, cities, and rural areas.
Additional workstreams
Digitalisation & innovation
Innovation diffusion
Broad-based innovation policy
Spatial productivity
Rural innovation
Cities & innovation
Videos
Demographic change
Regional disparities
SNG-WOFI web portal
Regional Development Policy Committee
Established in 1999, the OECD Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC) designs and implements effective place-based policies to improve living standards and well-being for citizens across all regions, cities, and rural areas. It provides internationally comparable subnational data to inform global debates on policy, finance, and governance.
The Committee meets twice yearly with relevant ministries and organizations to develop a vision of place-based, multi-level, and multi-sectoral regional development policy. Since its creation, the Committee has informed many global debates and is a leading forum for high-level policymakers.
Latest publications
Blogs
Will AI undo decentralisation?
The return of the tourists: Regions rethinking attractiveness and sustainability
Tempting talent: Enhancing the attractiveness of non-metropolitan regions
Rising from the rubble: How Turkish regions can rebuild and recover
La crise des déchets à paris et l’économie circulaire
Never waste a good waste crisis: Paris and the circular economy
Industrial regions on the way to climate neutrality?
Are rates hikes raising regional inequality?
When finance doesn't follow function: Unfunded mandates and their impact on the economic growth
When the white gold thaws
Thinking about new year resolutions...thinking about rural futures