Title:	Regional Competitiveness and Skills
Authors:	Colardyn, Danielle
Keywords:	Skills
Issue Date:	1997
Publisher:	OECD
Description:	The problems of regional development, disparities and competitiveness today occupy an increasingly important place in the priorities of governments. The globalisation of activities and rapid development of technology have accentuated the advantages of some territories such as major cities and areas with high potential competitiveness. Other territories have fared less well from the expansion of international trade and the opportunities given to them by external inputs. Economists have been led, therefore, to consider ways of reinforcing the contribution of these regions to overall growth. The exploitation of human resource development in this context is attracting increasing attention as the means of improving economic performance and job-creation capacities in certain regions. At a time when our societies are evolving towards learning economies, the value of the concept of ‘‘learning regions’’ becomes self-evident. Human resources, and the human factor in general, are playing an increasingly important role in the economic competitiveness of regions. The necessary frame of reference for developing human capital is being enlarged. It is taking more and more account of the formal qualification system, and the presence of the non-formal sector. The latter has a more significant role as public budgetary constraints become tighter. Even more fundamentally, our societies can no longer face up to technical and organisational challenges by relying only on the formal education system. Thus, enterprises, associations and networks occupy a more and more central place in maintaining and developing the skills of the labour force. In this connection, regions have much to contribute as partnerships develop and local networks exercise maximum effects.
URI:	http://10.6.20.12:80/handle/123456789/54654
ISBN:	92-64-15684-4
Appears in Collections:	Regional and Local Development Studies

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