Investing in regional equality: lessons from four cities

Reducing inequalities lies at the heart of resolving some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from eradicating poverty, to tackling climate change, to creating real sustainable economic growth. Inequality prevents nations from improving health, education and human rights outcomes. Ultimately, countries and their regions can’t grow or move forward if they are leaving people behind. But reducing inequalities requires transformative and sustained change. To inform this debate we selected four city-regions from across the world to investigate the different approaches used to reduce inequalities. Our case studies, Fukuoka (Japan), Leipzig (Germany), Cleveland (USA) and Nantes (France), have all had success in overcoming significant social and economic inequalities in recent years. We assess the various governance, policy and funding factors that have allowed them to grow out of inequality and what lessons can be learned from their experiences as well as their remaining challenges.