How to boost competitiveness in low density territories? the PROVERE initiative case

Abstract

This chapter presents the case of a policy instrument launched recently to address a serious economic and political problem in low population density territories. In many countries, such places have entered a long vicious circle of relative, if not absolute, impoverishing development. Distant from dynamic urban centres, they are losing active individuals, ageing their population stock, lacking entrepreneurial initiative, featuring thin institutional fabrics, missing consumers, failing to attract direct investment, destroying jobs, which reinforces population losses and closes the declining circle. Yet, many of these territories also house extremely valuable singular assets largely underutilised, such as breathtaking natural parks, impressive humanised landscapes, remarkable historical heritage, astonishing immaterial cultural values or highly appraised gourmet terroir products. PROVERE stands as a policy tool embedded in modern endogenous development theory and based on the collective efficiency concept. It aims at mobilising smart coordination of endogenous and alien private and public actions gathered around a common strategic and operational programme to boost sustainable business and job creation in low density territories. It exemplifies a balanced dialectics between top-down policy guidelines and bottom-up policy foundation and implementation. The case, written by someone who was deeply involved in the PROVERE making, guides the reader through its politico-economic background and provides a real-world account of the major ingredients an actual regional development policy tool is expected to feature. There is plenty information and several recommendations that might be useful for anyone attracted by design, implementation and evaluation aspects of regional development policies.