• fr
  • en

An OECD working paper measures contributions of regions to aggregate growth

In line with the research-results disseminated on the occasion of the RURBAN conference, the OECD published a collectively authored working paper on the contributions of regions to aggregate growth in the OECD.

Authors recall that while national growth rates have converged in the period 1995-2009, there is an increasing disparity in GDP per capita between regions. Researchers decided to calculate the contribution of different types of regions to aggregate growth and to investigate the impact of agglomeration forces and convergence forces which are influencing growth in different types of regions.

They find out that a few large regions contribute disproportionately to total growth while many small regions provide marginal contributions (less than 0.7% each). However, because they are more numerous, the cumulated growth from these small regions outweighs the contribution of the large ones. Put in figures, 2.4% of regions (20) contribute to 27% of OECD countries aggregated growth while remaining 97.6% contribute 73% of aggregated growth.

In order to Compare predominantly urban and predominantly rural regions, the OECD distributed the regions in four groups depending on their initial level of GDP/capita and annual average growth rates:

1- rich regions growing above OECD average,

2- rich regions growing below OECD average,

3- less-developed regions growing above OECD average

4- less-developed regions growing below OECD average

From the graph, you can clearly see that “while many urban regions grew faster than rural ones, many rural regions also out-performed urban regions in terms of GDP per capita growth rates over the period’.

The paper concludes that opportunities for growth may exist in all regions. They also find out that the larger concentration of above average regional growth rates is concentrated in middle-sized regions.

The message sent to policy-makers is that while they should ensure that the few regions with largest contributions to growth remain competitive, ‘improving the performance of periphery and even lagging regions should not be neglected because their cumulated contribution is dominant’.

A scientific confirmation of article 174 of the EU treaty on territorial cohesion and a plea for place-based territorial development policies.

Share
26 March 2014

Euromontana sur Facebook

5 days ago

Euromontana
Today, members of the Rural Pact Coordination Group (RPCG) meet online to discuss: • The forthcoming RPCG Declaration on the future of EU rural policy, which addresses the open questions in the @European Commission’s ‘key achievements and ways forward’ report;• RPCG members’ position papers on the future of Europe’s rural areas;• RPCG members’ role in the Rural Pact Conference of April 2025;• Members’ actions to date & the Rural Pact Support Office 2025 work programme.More information at: bit.ly/4fwtjnS#RuralPact #RuralVisionEU ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

6 days ago

Euromontana
📢 #CallForProposals: you can now submit proposals for the #InternationalMountainConference!The international conference dedicated to #MountainResearch is taking place from 14-18 September 2025 in #Innsbruck. It is being organised by the Research Area “Mountain Regions” at the Universität Innsbruck ⛰️🇦🇹📝 The #IMC is currently looking for proposals focusing on scientific research in #MountainRegions around the world. There are six formats to choose from, including plenary sessions and workshops - find out more and submit your proposal by 28 November: loom.ly/ntncy_M ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

2 weeks ago

Euromontana
We're at the #Gismart project Kick Off meeting in Paris today to share guidelines on communication, dissemination and exploitation of results 💡For the next two days, we will discuss the following steps to assess the sustainability of geographical indications all over Europe, including in the mountains ⛰️🌱🚜👩‍🌾 How to transition to more sustainable diet systems ? 🌱 How to implement the Farm to Fork Strategy?🥩🧀 how to develop a methodology to assess economic, social, environnemental dimensions of GIs sustainability?Pleased to be working on this key topic with INRAE and to continue collaboration with AREPO! More info on GI-SMART 🔗 www.euromontana.org/gi-smart/ ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

3 weeks ago

Euromontana
🌄 A week ago, we were opening the #MountainConvention2024 in the stunning Catalan Pyrenees! 🏔️✨ 250 mountain stakeholders came together in Puigcerdà to shape the #MountainEconomies of tomorrow! 💬 In the face of socio-economic, environmental, and demographic transitions, our economies must become 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 than ever! 💪🌱From fair remuneration of farmers & ecosystem services, to funding for the transition of mountain resorts, circular economy development for wool and wood products, support for entrepreneurship and interesting public procurement or taxes systems ... all a huge thank you to everyone for your energy and ideas! 🙌 These will be captured in the 𝐏𝐮𝐢𝐠𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚̀ 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, which will be presented on 11 December on International Mountain Day 📜🏔️🔜 Presentations and materials will soon be available! A special thank you to our co-organisers Territori. Generalitat de Catalunya. and CREAF, as well as our supporters Ajuntament de Puigcerdà , #NEMOR Network for European Mountain Research, European Rural Pact 🙏 ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

Euromontana sur Twitter