The political arena accords great significance to the "European metropolitan regions". As the motors of social, economic and cultural development, they are intended to assure competitiveness in Germany and Europe.
The most frequently used indicator for economic performance is the gross domestic product (GDP). In the MRN, this lies above the German average at around €31,700 per capita (2008). The chemical and pharmaceutical industry, construction industry, IT sector, automobile and machine engineering industries, food and luxury food industries, as well as insurance companies and other finance service providers, a productive handicraft industry, a strong wholesale sector and an attractive retail all contribute to this achievement.
Of the 1.1 million employed people in the region, a large proportion (over 36% in 2008) works in the production sector. More than 63% of the gross value added is generated in the service sector, which employs a vast proportion of the workforce (70%).
Further statistical data is available from the Rhine-Neckar Spatial Observation System.
