Typology of Czech non-metropolitan regions based on their principal factors, mechanisms and actors of development

Abstract

In this article, we propose a typology of Czech nonmetropolitan regions according to their key factors, actors and mechanisms of development. Five main categories of Czech non-metropolitan regions were identified – peripheries, single factory regions, “ordinary” diversified industrial regions, lower-tier satellite platforms and higher-tier satellite platforms, complemented by the cores and hinterlands of metropolitan regions and the medium-sized urban regions with metropolitan functions. Despite the small size and high structural and functional heterogeneity of microregional economies, no significant differences in economic performance between particular groups of non-metropolitan regions were identified. Specialized non-metropolitan regions dominated by large firms perform on average economically somewhat better than those diversified and they also outperform metropolitan hinterlands and urban regions. The analysis showed, however, that the effects of industrial structure on regional economic performance are rather limited.