OECD presents an overview of global trends in competitiveness and economic convergence, focusing on productivity trends and differences across regions. Eurostat follows with the latest statistical data and analysis, showcasing the latest trends in economic convergence within the EU, incorporating metrics beyond GDP. JRC closes the session with insights on the interaction between economic and demographic change, showing how different types of regions are likely to evolve in the coming decades.
- Territorial | Local and regional | Cohesion | Demographics (depopulation and ageing) | Social inclusion and Equality | Education and culture | Digital and ICT | Jobs and Employment | Research and Innovation
- Code: 09WS241241
- Albert Borschette Conference Centre, AB-4A
Speakers
Moderator
Practical information
- When
-
Wed 09/10/2024, 16:30 - 17:30 CET
- Where
- Albert Borschette Conference Centre, AB-4A
- Type of partnership
- Partnership
- Format
- Workshop/ panel debate
- Theme
-
Competitiveness and convergence: two sides of the same coin
- Language
- English
Partners
Reporting
Session summary
EU regions are progressing at different paces across various indicators, and there is a clear need for tailored strategies to support convergence and competitiveness. Regional statistics and data are elementary to plan, monitor and evaluate these tailored strategies.
The analysis of OECD countries shows that gaps in GDP per capita between metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions have either persisted or widened in recent years. The analysis points to a "mixed bag" of regional growth outcomes from 2015 to 2022, highlighting that improvements in economic performance are inconsistent across regions. A significant concentration of Foreign Direct Investment inflows is seen in a small subset of regions, underscoring the unequal distribution of investment and productivity drivers across OECD regions .
To assess competitiveness and convergence, it's important to look at GDP changes over time. Between 2012 and 2022, despite challenges, the EU economy grew by 17% in real terms. High-growth regions were mainly in Ireland, Hungary, Poland, and Romania, with some other standout areas like Brabant Wallon in Belgium, Mayotte in France, some regions in Croatia, Lithuania, and Malta. There were a handful of regions where GDP was actually lower in 2022 compared to 2012, these regions were mostly in Greece, Italy, and Romania.
Positive net migration has been a stabilizing factor, helping many EU regions avoid population decline. Migration within the EU follows a life cycle pattern with young adults moving to urban regions, middle-aged adults (and their children) moving to intermediate regions and older adults moving to rural regions. Rural and intermediate regions in eastern and southern EU Member states, however, have seen population reductions due to negative natural population growth and to a lesser degree negative net migration.