Executive Summary

Regions matter for building productive economies and inclusive societies. This third edition of the OECD Regional Outlook shows that while gaps in GDP per capita across OECD countries have narrowed over the last two decades, within their own borders countries are witnessing increasing income gaps among regions, cities and people. Leading regions and cities are now competing more with global peers than with others in the same country. There will always be interregional gaps, but those regions lagging behind have opportunities to catch up in terms of social and economic development. By helping to fuel the catching-up machine, countries can reap a double dividend of both increased aggregate productivity and inclusion.