Metropolitan governance reforms in the OECDThe case of the MRDH

Rolf Alter Director of Public Governance and Territorial Development, OECD

Metropolis Conference: Launch of the MRDH Metropolitan Region | 19 March 2015

How does the OECD view cities in the Netherlands?

Cities in the Netherlands

Functional urban areas in the Netherlands

Metro governance reforms in the OECD have accelerated in recent decades

Turkey: creation of metropolitan provinces

Australia: regional-led initiatives to create metro governance bodies

France: new governance structures for the 14 biggest urban areas

United Kingdom: “city deals” incentivise cities to improve metro cooperation

Italy: 10 provinces become metropolitan cities (città metropolitane)

Type of governance arrangement for those metropolitan areas with a governance body

Most metro governance bodies are based on informal co-ordination

While common, metro governance arrangements differ in their approach

• Around 2/3 of metro areas in the OECD have a metro governance body

• May be bottom-up or top-down, public sector- or private sector-driven

• Bodies range from “soft” co-ordination to formal metropolitan arrangements

• Most lack legislative powers• Different arrangements may co-

exist within a single country

Share of metropolitan areas with and without a governance body by type of power

Most metro bodies lack legislative powers (just 18% have them)

Governance bodies typically make economic sense and improve quality of life in cities

Urban sprawl Satisfaction with public transport

MRDH: Opportunities and challenges for an integrated metro region

The Hague

Rotterdam

MRDH

The Netherlands MRDH

Directions for success

• How to ensure democratic legitimacy and accountability?

• How to develop continuity beyond political cycles?

• How to ensure that (sm)all voices can be heard?

• How to develop strategies that take into account multiple territorial scales?

• What role for the province? For the national government?

Thank you