THE POWER OF PEOPLE, PLACES & FIRMS
Reading Time: 5 minutesIn the Paris region, over 5.6 million square meters of office space sit vacant. At the same time, demand for housing (especially social housing) has reached critical levels, with fourteen applications per allocation on average. This mismatch – between empty offices and overcrowded homes, raises important issues about how we can make better use of the built environment to meet urgent housing needs.
Reading Time: 5 minutesIn the popular mindset, rural regions often conjure up images of dereliction and decline. Yet this is far from the reality. Rural areas are home to 30% of the OECD population and in some cases are outpacing cities in growth, productivity, and innovation. Why then do outdated narratives of rural decline continue to overshadow their contributions? It is time to dismantle the myths holding these regions back.
Reading Time: 4 minutesAcross the OECD, regions are scrambling for the skills needed to boost regional prosperity. For many, mobilising diaspora communities could help bolster the workforce, investment, and civic energy. Pairing quick fixes and core place-based investments in attractiveness factors like housing and public services can turn attachment into arrivals and long-term retention. The time is right: the pool of potential returners is large, and we are getting a handle on what works. Regions should act now to convert existing attachment into renewed demographic and socio-economic vitality.
Reading Time: 4 minutesReducing red tape and administrative burdens is not just a matter of convenience. It is a vital step towards encouraging business creation, innovation, and competition, for a more productive and prosperous future. Simplifying rules, digitising services and working across levels of government can unlock the potential of local businesses – whether they are launching tech startups or providing care services. How can we avoid suffocating our SMEs through red tape?
Reading Time: 3 minutesGreater Manchester has recently outpaced London in productivity growth – a surprising shift that’s prompting many to ask: Is this the long-awaited “devolution dividend”? And could it finally help close the UK’s deep economic divides? Our recent study for the Manchester-based Productivity Institute suggests that advances in data science make it possible to identify a “sweet spot” in subnational government design. We must find it.
Reading Time: 5 minutesAu cours des quinze dernières années, la population vivant dans les zones urbaines de l’Union européenne a augmenté de près de 12 millions de personnes. Dans un contexte d’urbanisation, une telle tendance n’a rien de surprenant. Mais sous la surface se cache une réalité plus complexe : toutes les villes ne profitent pas de cette croissance. Concrétiser le droit de rester suppose des politiques qui rééquilibrent la prospérité.
Reading Time: 3 minutesPowerful forces are reshaping the world of work. Ageing populations, the transition to green energy, rapid digitalisation, and uneven connectivity are already redrawing the economic landscape. AI tools promise a way out – automating routine tasks, optimising schedules, even predicting maintenance needs before breakdowns. But for local leaders, a dilemma looms: will AI ease labour shortages or put people out of work – and their region?
Reading Time: 4 minutesOver the past 15 years, Europe’s cities have grown by nearly 12 million people. Yet while Europe’s large cities have expanded by around 6.5%, smaller cities have shrunk by 1.7%. Western cities have been generally growing, while many in Eastern Europe are losing residents. This uneven growth raises an important question – what does it mean to have the Right to Stay in Europe’s shrinking cities?