Territorial Imbalances Research Articles

Tourism policy and territorial imbalances in Spain

AbstractThis paper aims to analyse Spanish tourism policy and its relation to a series of facts. The research combines an extensive review of the existing studies into the aspects of tourism policy linked to government, geography and economy with an examination of statistical sources. The main issues and findings analysed in this study are highlighted below. Firstly, the evolution of tourism policy of Spain in the last 60 years in relation to the process of national economic development is analysed. Secondly, a limited role of tourism on economic and territorial balance as well as changes in the regional distribution in the supply of hotel accommodation is highlighted. Thirdly, territorial changes related to the supply of hotel accommodation and GDP per capita are discussed. Finally, certain topics are suggested for future debate: tourism and imbalance as well as tourism and development.

Squilibri territoriali e andamenti strutturali

New issues such as that of housing dispersion and the geographical distribution of work are investigated in the article from a specific viewpoint, that of territorial imbalances between different geographical areas in Italy, in relation to different degrees of economic development. These gaps within single regions and between large geographical areas of the country are described as the many-faceted sides of a single economic and social development mechanism, in which corporatist and municipal pressures prevail, which while they differ greatly from place to place are united by a common ‘private sector’ political and cultural matrix, linked to the market. The discussion concludes with the formulation of national strategy to restore balance which is very detailed in terms of the objectives and also the planning and governance tools to use.

Ukraine’s diverging space-economy: The Orange Revolution, post-soviet development models and regional trajectories

This paper considers the evolution of Ukraine’s space-economy from 1990 to 2009, paying particular attention to comparative regional economic performance during the country’s expansionary phase from 1999 to 2008. This shows that Ukraine inherited from the Imperial and Soviet eras a space-economy that was amongst the most unbalanced in Europe. Furthermore post-Soviet regional trajectories intensified these territorial imbalances. The paper argues that these trajectories are linked to a wider political economy and especially to shifts in underlying development models and the characteristics of state power. The Orange Revolution marked a significant switch away from export-led industrial growth, which involved national accumulation towards a credit-fuelled consumption model that was reliant on importing foreign capital. The paper identifies three major types of specialized regional economy that persisted despite the change in development model. Nonetheless, their relative performance and contribution to national growth were affected by the shift in model. Centripetal tendencies were reinforced, which increased regional divergence. The paper argues that the Ukrainian space-economy is best understood as a series of historically rooted and relatively geographically bounded regional economies that are increasingly functionally integrated yet externally oriented.

Spatial disparities in the European agriculture: a regional analysis

This article examines the territorial imbalances in European agriculture during the period 1980 to 2001, by means of the information provided by various methodological instruments which allow us to overcome the drawbacks of conventional convergence analysis. The results obtained reveal that the regional distribution of productivity in the agricultural sector is characterized by the presence of positive spatial dependence. This fact implies that the European regions in close spatial proximity register similar levels of the variable under study, which highlights the relevance of geographical location in this context. The empirical evidence presented also shows that regional disparities have remained almost constant during the time interval considered. However, the increase in density around the European average explains the observed reduction in the degree of bipolarization, while intra-distribution mobility is relatively limited. Finally, the analysis carried out allows us to assess the role of variables such as country of origin, investment per worker in the agricultural sector, regional per capita income or the size of the agrifood industry, in explaining the dynamics of the distribution under analysis.

Spatial Inequality in Productivity in the European Union: Sectoral and Regional Factors

To gain a deeper insight into territorial imbalances existing in the European Union, the authors analyzedthe evolution of regional disparitiesin productivity between 1977 and 1999. The results obtained reveal an overall decrease in regional inequality in productivity throughout the study period, even though the density functions estimated suggest the existence of some degree of polarization in the regional distribution of output per worker. The article also examines the role played by sectoral and regional factorsin productivity convergence, using a combination of shift-share analysis and various theoretical results obtained in the literature on personal income distribution. The analysis shows that regional inequality in output per worker in the European Unionis closelylinkedtointrinsic dif ferences between regions. Likewise,the empirical evidence highlights the importance of the national component and spatial location in accounting for observed dif ferences in sectoral productivity across the European regions. Finally, the findings supportthe relevance of one-sector growth modelsto explain per capitaincome disparitiesinthe European context.

The Dynamics of Regional Disparities in Central and Eastern Europe during Transition

This paper examines the evolution of territorial imbalances in per capita income in the Central and Eastern Europe regions between 1990 and 2001. In order to overcome the limitations of conventional convergence analysis, we have combined a non-parametric approach that allows us to study the dynamics of the entire cross-section distribution, with a series of theoretical results and measures taken from the literature on personal income distribution. The results obtained show an overall reduction in regional inequality over the study period. This process has been compatible with the simultaneous presence of between-country convergence and within-country divergence. Likewise, we have observed a reduction in the development gap between the sample regions and Western Europe. In any event, the polarization of the distribution under consideration has decreased, while the registered level of intra-distribution mobility is relatively low. Furthermore, the analysis highlights the important role played in explaining the distribution dynamics by factors such as the national component, spatial location, productive structure, agglomeration economies and the percentage of gross domestic product devoted to investment.

Regional Disparities and National Development Revisited

This article explores the relationship between regional inequality and economic development level in 14 Western European countries for the period 1980–2002. The results, which were obtained by means of a semi-parametric methodology, indicate the presence of a process of regional divergence once a certain level of development has been reached. Nevertheless, in contrast to the available empirical evidence for the United States, our estimates show that the increase in regional disparities is purely transitory. Indeed, beyond a given level of per capita GDP, regional inequality can be seen to decrease, ultimately leading to a stabilization of territorial imbalances in the later stages of the development process.These findings are robust to the inclusion of additional variables in the analysis and to the choice of the measure used to quantify regional disparities.

Spatial Distribution of Patents in Spain: Determining Factors and Consequences on Regional Development

GUERRERO D. C. and SERO´ M. A. (1997) Spatial distribution of patents in Spain: determining factors and consequences on regional development, Reg. Studies 31, 381‐390. Innovation and technological development are crucial factors in the economic growth of any country or region. In this paper we set out to analyse the provincial distribution of such activities by looking at the result of the innovative process: i.e. first patent application per province of residence of the applicant. We will consider the factors determining its behaviour by means of regression analysis. We will focus on one of the major instruments of governmental policy regarding technology: financial aid from the CDTI (Centre for Industrial and Technological Development). This variable contributes greatly to the technological development of the most innovative provinces, but the criteria of productivity and efficiency governing this variable render it an element which generates important territorial imbalances or differences. GUERRERO D. C. et SERÓ M. A. (1997) La distribution géographique des brevets en Espagne: les facteurs déterminants et les conséquences sur l'aménagement du territoire, Reg. Studies 31, 381-390. L'innovation et les avances technologiques sont des facteurs clés dans la croissance économique de n'importe quel pays et de n'importe quelle région. Cet article cherche à analyser la distribution géographique de telles activités en examinant les résultats du processus d'innovation: à savoir la demande d'un premier brevet par province de résidence du demandeur. A partir d'une analyse de régression, on considère les facteurs déterminants. On porte sur l'un des dispositifs majeurs de la politique du gouvernement à propos de la technologie: à savoir l'aide financière provenant du CDTI (Centre pour le développement technologique et industriel). Cette variable contribue sensiblement au développement technologique des provinces les plus innovatrices, mais les critères qui règlent cette variable, à savoir la productivité et l'efficience, le rend un élément qui engendre d'importants déséquilibres ou différences géographiques. GUERRERO D. C. und SERO´ M. A. (1997) Ra¨umliche Verteilung von Patenten in Spanien bestimmende Faktoren und Folgeerscheinungen regionaler Entwicklung, Reg. Studies 31, 381-390 Innovation und technologische Entwicklung sind entscheidende Faktoren im wirtschaftlichen Wachstum eines Landes oder einer Region. In diesem Aufsatz wird versucht, die provinzielle Sreuung solcher Aktivita¨ten durch Untersuchung der Ergebnisse des Innovationsprozesses, d.h. der ersten Patentanmeldungen pro Provinz, in der der Antragsteller wohnt, zu analysieren. Das Verhalten bestimmtender Faktoren soll mittels Regressionsanalyse untersucht werden. Die Aufmerksamkeit soll vorallem einem der Hauptinstrumente der Regierungspolitik bezu¨glich Technologie gelten: der finanziellen Unterstu¨tzung des Zentrums fu¨r Industrielle und Technische Entwicklung (CDTI). Diese vera¨nderliche finanzielle Hilfe tra¨gt stark zu der technologischen Entwicklung der innovationsfreudigsten Provinzen bei, aber die Kriterien der diese Vera¨nderliche bestimmenden Produktivita¨t und Leistungsfa¨higkeit machen es zu einem Element, das bedeutendes territoriales Ungleichgewicht oder Unterschiede bewirkt.

Squilibri demografici e scarsità di risparmio nell'economia mondiale

The objective of the paper is twofold. First, the possible links between the feared decrease of the formation of savings and the strong territorial imbalances that characterised the demographic evolution are examined. Second, the authors aim to demonstrate that it makes sense to address the problem of lack of savings in the global economy above all if it is seen in relative terms, comparing it with the specific investment needs that must be met in order to mitigate economic and demographic imbalances. Attention is focused on a specific and particularly significant aspect of the problem: that of the relationship between family savings and optimal accumulation of human capital at different stages of economic development and population growth. The authors conclude that more than a problem of absolute world savings scarcity, there is a predominant redistributive problem, in the face of a marked economic and demographic dualism that takes on a worrisome destabilising potential. JEL Codes: E21, J24, O16

Employment Planning in the Soviet Union: Continuity and Change

Part 1 Employment planning and labour balances: employment planning - an outline of theoretical and practical issues labour balances and employment growth labour shortage and excess labour - branch and territorial imbalances. Part 2 Labour redeployment - trends and institutions: labour redistribution labour redeployment under perestroika the administration of labour displacement - the Job Placement Bureaux labour law and job rights. Part 3 The demand for labour the enterprise demand for labour the output - versus the employment-oriented approach - the notion of workplace excess-capacity - a new definition of labour shortage capacity-labour balance model. Part 4 Production capacity utilization and knowledge: production capacity utilization and shift regime - indicators and quality of information information and capacity utilization in theory information on capacity utilization in practice contradictory information and investment policy actual and expected outcomes. Part 5 Labour-saving - notion and indicators labour value of output and productivity labour-release in planning theory - relative release versus absolute release, conventional labour-release the principles of labour-saving at the enterprise level labour-saving in practice - the physical indicators the rationale of limits on employment the branch limits on employment the territorial limits on employment. Part 6 Wages, employment and labour-saving: outline of Soviet wage policy - theory and practice the wage-productivity relation and employment labour-saving through wage incentives - experiments and model wage control - wage norms and the principle of residual formation of the wage fund the wage reforms - increased differentiation in wage rates and bonuses the implementation of the wage reform. Conclusion: concluding remarks and discussion of the options for the 1990s.

Employment planning in the Soviet Union: continuity and change

Part 1 Employment planning and labour balances: employment planning - an outline of theoretical and practical issues labour balances and employment growth labour shortage and excess labour - branch and territorial imbalances. Part 2 Labour redeployment - trends and institutions: labour redistribution labour redeployment under perestroika the administration of labour displacement - the Job Placement Bureaux labour law and job rights. Part 3 The demand for labour the enterprise demand for labour the output - versus the employment-oriented approach - the notion of workplace excess-capacity - a new definition of labour shortage capacity-labour balance model. Part 4 Production capacity utilization and knowledge: production capacity utilization and shift regime - indicators and quality of information information and capacity utilization in theory information on capacity utilization in practice contradictory information and investment policy actual and expected outcomes. Part 5 Labour-saving - notion and indicators labour value of output and productivity labour-release in planning theory - relative release versus absolute release, conventional labour-release the principles of labour-saving at the enterprise level labour-saving in practice - the physical indicators the rationale of limits on employment the branch limits on employment the territorial limits on employment. Part 6 Wages, employment and labour-saving: outline of Soviet wage policy - theory and practice the wage-productivity relation and employment labour-saving through wage incentives - experiments and model wage control - wage norms and the principle of residual formation of the wage fund the wage reforms - increased differentiation in wage rates and bonuses the implementation of the wage reform. Conclusion: concluding remarks and discussion of the options for the 1990s.