In order to curb rising unemployment and to upgrade low value-added activities, the competitive edge lost in low-cost labour must be earned back through education and innovation. Regional policy stands as a key tool to achieve this shift in a relatively small yet diverse country with moderate...

This report brings into light an emerging framework, with a new territorial unit for local initiative in the Czech Republic: the micro-region. It investigates the issues at stake in the development of these voluntary entities, that can be characterised as main partners for regions, although they...

OECD's Territorial Review of the Valencian Central Districts of Spain. It finds that the future of the region in an era of globalisation is uncertain. At a time when producer services are becoming critical to the success of goods producing industries, will the small settlements that characterise...

This detailed policy review examines recent developments in regional policy in France and in particular, challenges regarding competiveness policies and multilevel governance. It includes interesting statistics related to regions and makes a series of recommendations for French authorities.

The OECD Territorial Review of Mexico City highlights the region’s great potential for further growth, which is linked to the concentration of headquarters, educational establishments and research facilities, as well as high levels of FDI and rich cultural resources. However, it also reveals...

Low growth, population ageing and depopulation, and new trade relationships with the East Asia region have made it increasingly necessary for Japan to reform its economic and institutional systems. A key element of this reform concerns Japan's policies for regional development. This report...

The adoption in 2004 by Euro-Mediterranean Ministers for Industry of the Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise resulted in important steps to improve the business environment. The 2008 enterprise policy assessment presents a comprehensive picture of policies that promote entrepreneurship and...