Setback For Now, Not Forever: Recovering Productivity in Cities

25 May 2021 17.00-18.30 CET

Cities took an economic hit as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Industries and businesses that make cities vibrant attractive places to live, work, and visit, were turned on their side. At the same time, members of the workforce in cities experienced the COVID-19 economic impacts differently, some residents lost their livelihoods because their workplaces had to close, while others were able to transition to work from home. Cities are leveraging their purchasing power and creating recovery investment plans to eventually move from short term response to long term recovery, but what will it take to make sure that recovery is inclusive?

Panelists

• Michael Hancock, Mayor of Denver, United States
• Dagur Eggertsson, Mayor of Reykjavik, Iceland
• Lisa Helps, Mayor of Victoria, Canada
• Amaia Arregi, Deputy Mayor of Bilbao, Spain

Moderated by Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD, and Emilia Saiz, Secretary General, United Cities and Local Governments.