Large and persistent inequalities in regional economic performance within countries
exist throughout the OECD. The 2019 Regional Outlook discusses the underlying causes
of economic disparities across regions and highlights the need for place-based policies
to address them. The report makes the case that place-based policies are especially
important in light of growing public discontent with the economic, social and political
status quo in many regions. The geographical patterns of public discontent are closely
related to the degree of regional inequalities and policies to address public discontent
need to have a place-based dimension.
Place-based policies will become even more important in the future due to several
technological, demographic and environmental megatrends. This Regional Outlook emphasises
that all regions will be affected by these megatrends, but their effects will vary
from region to region, even within the same country. Appropriate policy responses
need to take this diversity into account and should be tailored to the region-specific
impacts of global megatrends. Insofar as possible, this Regional Outlook presents
steps that policy makers can take today to make the next generation of regional policies
fit for the future.