OECD Regional Outlook 2023
The Longstanding Geography of Inequalities
![image of OECD Regional Outlook 2023 image of OECD Regional Outlook 2023](https://assets.oecdcode.org/covers/100/92cd40a0.jpg)
Over the last two decades, regional inequalities have remained significant, and have grown within many OECD countries. Impacts of recent shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and megatrends, threaten to widen these gaps between regions, deepening the longstanding geography of inequalities. This report, Regional Outlook 2023 – The Longstanding Geography of Inequalities, provides novel evidence on the evolution of inequalities between OECD regions across several dimensions (including income and access to services) over the past twenty years. It sheds light on the role of productivity to address regional inequalities. It also looks at the costs of regional inequalities, which can weaken the economic, social, and political fabric, and lead to a geography of discontent. Furthermore, the report explores forward-looking scenarios for regions as part of ongoing reflections to future-proof regional development policy and secure social cohesion. Finally, it provides a policy roadmap to guide governments’ efforts to reduce persistent regional inequalities now and in the future.
Also available in: French
The future(s) of OECD regions: Scenarios 2045
The chapter discusses how readiness to respond to change is critical to secure prosperity and social cohesion in the next 20 years. The first section focuses on the value of leveraging strategic foresight to manage transnational and intergenerational risks related to megatrends and shocks and to future-proof regional development policy. The second proposes three scenarios for OECD countries and regions in 2045 and what these different pathways could imply for regional inequalities and policies. A final section sets out ways forward to future-proof regional development.
Also available in: French
- Click to access:
-
Click to download PDF - 739.12KBPDF