Deindustrialisation and regional transitions: How can places transform leaving no one behind?

This webinar was the 23rd meeting of the Spatial Productivity Lab and is organised in collaboration with the  OECD Transforming Places project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The Spatial Productivity Lab (SPL) at the OECD Trento Centre for Local Development is a dedicated research laboratory that works with local and global partners to advance knowledge about the ways regional policy and a better understanding of spatial links can improve productivity growth and thereby the creation of better jobs and well-being. 

The OECD Transforming Places project, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will develop new international evidence on how to catalyse economic and social transformation in struggling communities. While it has a focus on transferrable lessons for the UK, it will generate insights and foster international exchanges that are relevant for a broader audience.

As OECD regions globally grapple with the aftermath of deindustrialisation, many places with a strong manufacturing legacy have faced economic challenges. Yet, some have managed to successfully transform.

This webinar explored the strategies that successful regions have employed to rebound from deindustrialisation, e.g. by enhancing local human capital development through education and skills development. Some of these transforming regions have exceeded average national employment growth despite initial setbacks. Aggregate regional growth, however, may mask increasing disparities between demographic groups within the same community. The renewed growth pattern may favour high-skilled workers and bypass residents at the middle and bottom of the income distribution. Factors such as public investments and local leadership matter to ensure that the positive outcomes of successful transformations are shared also with vulnerable groups.

By examining these dynamics, the webinar aimed to provide practical insights for OECD regions coping with deindustrialisation and structural change and seeking to accelerate their paths towards sustained and inclusive economic prosperity.

The event was open to civil society and all those interested in the topic upon free registration.

For more information, please contact Carlo.Menon@oecd.org and Wessel.Vermeulen@oecd.org (Spatial Productivity Lab) or  TransformingPlaces@oecd.org.