“The Lille metropolis, the locomotive of regional economic dynamics?” This is the question to which Lille Métropole Development and Town Planning Agency (Adulm) has tried to answer through his work in recent years.
In partnership with the European Metropolis of Lille, the Hauts-de-France Region and the laboratory
EconomiX (CNRS – University of Paris-Nanterre), the research led to an astonishing conclusion: no, in terms of employment Lille would not have not the expected overflow effect in neighboring territories.
However, the region’s strengths continue to be praised, with cross-border issues in mind. “Lille is an essential gateway to access other metropolises», Introduces Mathilde Bellenchien, researcher at Adulm.
A lack of synergy in a complex territory
However, Nadine Levratto, from the EconomiX laboratory, targets a very complex structure in the Lille metropolis. By studying the different streams which cover the perimeter (home-work journeys, establishments-head office, etc.), the study indicates that each territory that composes it functions, in reality, in a autonomous, without depending on Lille. “According to a publication by France Stratégie, Lille is a metropolis whose employment dynamics are not shared with the surrounding territories», She quotes.
This lack of synergy, which is otherwise unusual compared to the national average, could be explained by a lack of complementarity in the various activities established in the territory, or even by political decisions that cannot be taken into account by statistics.
Something to surprise and perplex several regional economic players … and border ones. “We cannot say that Lille is an island», Reacts for example Frédéric Seynhaeve, deputy director of the Territorial Development Agency of Picardy Wallonia. And to continue: “The bias of statistics is that they do not take into account all the realities.»
This is why the Adulm does not intend to close the file and will continue todeepen your research, in particular by including as soon as possible, after the end of the health crisis, travel related to leisure. “For our part, we will continue to work on the development of the territory and its exchanges with its neighbors.», Indicates Simon Jodogne, deputy director of the governance and territorial dialogues direction of the MEL.
Exchanges are also starting to intensify with Brussels, but also the Littoral and Paris.
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