Unlocking the potential of intermediary cities for regional development in France

Intermediary cities can be powerful drivers of smart, inclusive, and sustainable regional development. Located outside major metropolitan areas, these small and medium-sized hubs play an “intermediary” role by structuring the flows of people, goods, capital, and knowledge across surrounding urban and rural areas. This study, conducted as part of the OECD-EU project “Unlocking the Potential of Intermediary Cities for Regional Development", analyses the dynamics of intermediary cities in France. Out of the 69 functional urban areas identified by the OECD in France, 24 correspond to intermediary cities, representing 34.8% of municipalities and 6.6% of the population. Drawing on the project’s analytical framework and the example of the intermediary city of Valence, this study examines the key functions performed by these cities, as well as the public policies that support their development. By shedding light on the challenges and opportunities facing intermediary cities within the context of a unitary, decentralised and deconcentrated state, this study aims to help policymakers better leverage the strategic role of intermediary cities in support of more balanced regional development.