For an OECD country today, retaining industry is no longer a challenge but a competition

Demand for manufactured products and overall production of manufactured products in OECD countries have weakened significantly. This means that manufacturi ng industry is going to be located in few places in OECD countries, and therefore that competition between countries to attract or retain industry is going to be intense. This competition is playing out via corporate modernisation, labour force skills, taxation and labour costs. Given the intensity of competition in these areas between them , it will not be enough for OECD countries to be good - they will have to be among the best. This does not inspire optimism for France or Italy.