Report/Rapport : OECD Regions at a Glance, March 2009

Source: OECD, 23 March 2009
International comparisons of economies and societies tend to be undertaken at the country level;

statistics refer to gross national product, for example, while health and education levels tend to be measured and debated in national terms. However, economic performance and social indicators can vary within countries as much as between countries.

In recent years regional differences in economic output, labour productivity, job creation and labour force participation within countries have been at least the double than that among OECD countries. Understanding the variety in regional economic structures and performance is essential for designing effective strategies which improve regional competitiveness and in turn increase national growth.

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