OECD Regional Development Working Papers

ISSN :
2073-7009 (online)
DOI :
10.1787/20737009
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Working papers from the Regional Development Policy Division of the OECD cover a full range of topics including regional statistics and analysis, urban governance and economics, rural governance and economics, and multi-level governance. Depending on the programme of work, the papers can cover specific topics such as regional innovation and networks, the determinants of regional growth or fiscal consolidation at the sub-national level.
 

Policies to Enhance the Physical Urban Environment for Competitiveness

A New Partnership between Public and Private Sectors You or your institution have access to this content

Authors:
Tetsuya Shimomura1, Tadashi Matsumoto1
Author Affiliations
  • 1: OECD, France

Publication Date
29 Jan 2010
Bibliographic information
No:
2010/01
Pages
52
DOI
10.1787/5kmmnd1rst7c-en

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Globalisation and subsequent competition among cities have triggered a profound change in the mode of the governance of cities. It is often described as a shift from a managerial mode of governance, which had been primarily concerned with provision of social welfare services and control of private activities, to that of entrepreneurialism, strongly characterised by a pro-economic growth strategic approach. Subsequently, attractiveness has been increasingly regarded as a key factor for urban policies, since attractive cities are competitive and able to attract newly-emerging businesses and highly-skilled workforces that are the driving force in the global economy. Today, enhancing urban attractiveness is high on the agenda of urban policy in many OECD countries. A city?s attractiveness is determined by a wide range of elements. The OECD report "Competitive Cities: A New Entrepreneurial Paradigm in Spatial Development" (OECD, 2007) analysed various elements contributing to urban attractiveness (e.g. flagship redevelopment, cultural facilities, international events, etc.). Among various findings, it emphasises that it is important for a city to enhance its distinctiveness by identifying and building up urban assets that are unique to the city. In particular, many cities have recognised that attractive physical environment of cities can enhance their uniqueness and distinctiveness.
JEL Classification:
  • H41: Public Economics / Publicly Provided Goods / Public Goods
  • H76: Public Economics / State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations / State and Local Government: Other Expenditure Categories
  • R11: Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics / General Regional Economics / Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
  • R33: Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics / Real Estate Markets, Production Analysis, and Firm Location / Nonagricultural and Nonresidential Real Estate Markets
  • R53: Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics / Regional Government Analysis / Public Facility Location Analysis; Public Investment and Capital Stock
  • R58: Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics / Regional Government Analysis / Regional Development Planning and Policy