Auvergne among European regions

Daniel Gras, Sébastien Terra

Sujets

• INSEE
• Europe
• Région
• Territoire
• Union européenne

Informations

• Publié par: insee
• Nombre de lectures: 40
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

➤ Regions in Europe,
a Europe of Regions
In the context of a larger Europe and in the face of globalisation challenges,
an isolated Region - one looking to act alone within its small scope - would
not have the means to develop or for its territory to flourish.This is obvious:
Regions need Europe.As soon as we hear about alternative,environmental-
ly friendly policies being put forward for example, it is necessary to have a
global perspective and to be open to an awareness on larger scales than the
regional level. But the opposite scenario, a disembodied Europe incapable
of hearing the views of the smallest and most fragile regions, would lose its
raison d'être and legitimacy to take action: Europe must be attentive to its
Regions to fine-tune its common policies and to act effectively. My invest-
ment in the Committee of the Regions has convinced me of the importance
of this "win-win "exchange:the Regions need Europe and Europe needs the
Regions.
This positioning study gives the Auvergne Region - ever concerned with boos-
ting its appeal and competitiveness - the opportunity to assess its strengths
and weaknesses in the demographic,economic and scientific fields and regar-
ding employment. Through this document the Region also wished to find out
more about the other European regions presenting similar characteristics and
challenges,so as to identify communities of interest when setting up inter-re-
gional European programmes and to examine the public policies drawn up by
these regions for tackling common challenges.
René SOUCHON, President of Auvergne Regional Counciluvergne's situation seems unusual within France: moderate population growth, more pronounced ageing, and an industry-Aand agriculture-driven economy. When looked at from a European perspective however, Auvergne is found to have strong
similarities with many regions.
Within the European Union (EU), 88 regions share Auvergne's demographic profile – but the latter is thriving more in
demographic terms thanks to a boost in appeal. As its population ages, the region's healthcare services need increasing.
In economic terms, the agricultural and industrial footprint of the region tends to become less marked at European level:
Auvergne is one of several regions characterised by major specialisation in services for households, health and social action.
Compared with these regions, Auvergne has an undeniable edge: a high research and innovation potential and a high capacity
nd
for welcoming tourists. That said, Auvergne lies in a lowly 142 place for wealth creation in Europe. The employment rate is
lagging behind the Lisbon Strategy's objectives, particularly for employment of seniors.
Daniel GRAS, Sébastien TERRA, Insee Auvergne
the rise - the natural deficit being largely offset by an appeal➤ Assertedly thriving demogra- above the average of similar regions. In this group, Auvergne
thus features alongside those regions with the most dynamicphics, but of low density
thdemographics:it lies in 8 position by the growth of its popu-
thith a surface area of 26,013 km², Auvergne is one of the lation and 15 by the significance of its net migration rate.
rd(1)Wlarger European regions (43 ). However, its mountai-
nous areas and extensive, mainly rural expanse mean that it is
not a very dense region. With 52 inhabitants per km² in 2007,
Auvergne thus finds itself a long way below the average of Eu-
ropean regions (356 inhabitants per km²). It has recently expe-
rienced a growth in its population (+ 0.28% per year between (1) Of the 260 (out of 262) regions for which all demographic data are available.
2003 and 2007), thanks to renewed appeal (+ 0.3% per year).
thIt is in 136 place for its demo-
thgraphic dynamics and 115 for its
appeal among European regions. Strengths and weaknesses of Auvergne
By its demographic profile, Au- compared with European regions
vergne is on a par with a large
group of 88 European regions (see
Research and development intensity Strenathstext box "The demographic profile of 5
European regions").This group also
Growth of gross domestic product Tourist accommodation capacity
4includes Burgundy, two Spanish
regions (Asturias and Extremadu-
3
ra),two Portuguese regions (Cen-
Employment rate of senior Disposable household incometro and Alentejo),the vast majori- 2
citizens
ty of German, Romanian,
1Bulgarian and Baltic regions and a
Weaknesses
handful of Scandinavian regions. 0
These regions all have several fea-
Ageing indicator Tourist numbers
tures in common: a population
density far short of the European
average; more accentuated ageing
and less thriving demographics
Population growth Observed work productivity(and even a population decline in
half the regions) due to a pro-
nounced natural deficit.
Density of GPs Employment rateCompared with the other 88 Eu-
ropean regions presenting this
Key:
demographic profile, the thriving A value of 5 for an indicator places Auvergne in the first fifth of regions.
A value of 1 for an ind places Auvergne in the last fifth of r.phics of Auvergne set it
apart. Indeed, unlike most of
Source: Eurostatthese regions,its population is on
INSEE Auvergne 68 January 20112 3 4 5 67 89 10Main demographic indicators for Auvergneand European regions
thAuvergne is115 in Europe for its demographic appeal
Auvergne'srank
Average Average Average
All SimilarofEuropean ofFrench of similar Auvergne
regions regions*regions regions regions*
(260 regions) (88 regions)
Population in 2007 1,884,310 2,807,773 1,617,656 1,339,000 144 44
2Surface area in 2007 (km ) 16,375 24,726 19,268 26,013 43 17
2Population density in 2007 (inhabitants/km ) 356 142 182 52 234 74
Annual population variation rate between 2003 et 2007 (in%) 0.37% 0.67% – 0.18% + 0.28% 136 8
Annual population variation rate due to the rate of natural
0.01% 0.27% – 0.24% – 0.03% 135 7
increase between 2003 et 2007 (in%)
Annual population variation rate due to the net migration rate
0.36% 0.40% + 0.05% + 0.31% 115 15
between 2003 et 2007 (in%)
Proportion of over 65s in 2007 (in%) 17.30% 17.70% 18.90% 20.10% 50 32 of under 20s in 2007 (in%) 21.90% 24.10% 20.40% 21.90% 144 22
* Regions presenting the same demographic profile as Auvergne
Source: Eurostat
hospital is long.In the medium term,Auvergne's task will be to➤ Healthcare services that need maintain good accessibility to healthcare services for the
whole of its population.stepping up to cope with popu-
lation ageing
thAuvergne is one of the oldest regions in Europe, lying in 50 Study scope
place among European regions for the proportion of over 65s.
This study focuses on 262 of the 271 EU NUTS 2 regions. TheThis proportion - which reached 20.1% in Auvergne in 2007 -
outermost regions (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana,is almost 3 points above the European average. Suitable health
Reunion Island, Azores, Madeira and the Canaries) and the Spa-care for an older population with a greater risk of dependence
nish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla have been excluded from the
is a central challenge.In response to this challenge,Auvergne's analysis.
situation seems to be contrasted. Its density of GPs is below In order to identify those regions presenting similar structural
the European average, and below the average of the regions characteristics to Auvergne's, two comparison standards have
presenting the same demographic profile.On the other hand, been developed for this study.
compared with the region's population, the accommodating For the demographic aspects,the comparison regions are the
capacity of the region's hospitals is much higher than most 88 that share the same demographic profile as Auvergne (see
other European regions. With 885 beds for 100,000 inhabi- text box "The demographic profile of European regions").
th (2) thtants,Auvergne is in 13 place in Europe and 8 among the For the economic aspects,the comparison regions are the 93
(3)regions sharing its demographic profile .This situation never- that share the same economic profile as Auvergne (see text
box "The economic profile of European regions").theless masks sometimes major disparities across the region:
in some rural mountainous areas, the time it takes to get to a For some issues analysed in the course of this study,the indicator
values for a few regions are missing. The number of regions ac-
tually studied may therefore be less than 262.One of Eurostat's
(2) Of the 224 (out of 262) regions for which all healthcare data are available. working objectives is to improve the quality, comparability and
(3) Of the 86 (out of 88) comparison regions for which all healthcare data are exhaustiveness of data and the extension of regional cover.
available.
Main indicators on healthcare services for Auvergneand European regions
Economic growth below the European average
Auvergne'srank
Average Average Average
All Similar2008 data of european ofFrench of similar Auvergne
regions regions*regions regions regions *
(260 regions) (86 regions)
Number of dentists per 100,000 inhabitants 66 63 66 70 99 43 of GPs per 100,000 331 320 308 299 146 56
Number of hospital beds for 100,000 inhabitants 593 737 665 885 13 8
* Regions presenting the same economic profile as Auvergne.
Source: Eurostat