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Impact of Polycentric Urban Systems on Intra-regional Disparities: A Micro-regional Approach

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  • Jiří Malý

Abstract

From the normative perspective of EU regional policy, polycentric spatial development has been seen as an effective tool to overcome regional disparities since the adoption of the European Spatial Development Perspective. However, the impact of a polycentric spatial structure on equal spatial development is ambiguous and still waits for its clarification. This paper examines the relationship by focusing on the local scale, where medium-sized towns play a crucial role as local centres in everyday human lives. Using functional regions of the Czech Republic, this paper defines polycentric urban systems at the micro-regional scale. Subsequently, the level of mono/polycentricity is compared with intra-regional disparities. Based on the results of the analysis, it can be argued that the connection of polycentricity with balanced spatial development is strongly determined by selected indicators. However, the findings do not provide evidence about the strictly positive impact of polycentricity on intra-regional disparities. In a light of these results, the conclusion is rather sceptical about the unique role of polycentricity in spatial development and due to the lack of similar studies, further research is recommended.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiří Malý, 2016. "Impact of Polycentric Urban Systems on Intra-regional Disparities: A Micro-regional Approach," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(1), pages 116-138, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurpls:v:24:y:2016:i:1:p:116-138
    DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2015.1054792
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    Cited by:

    1. Malý Jiří, 2016. "Small Towns in the Context of “Borrowed Size” and “Agglomeration Shadow” Debates: the Case of the South Moravian Region (Czech Republic)," European Countryside, Sciendo, vol. 8(4), pages 333-350, December.
    2. Zaborowski Tomasz, 2020. "Factors of Divergence between Peripheral and Central Subregions: The Case of Mazovia Province, Poland," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 39(4), pages 39-51, December.
    3. David Burgalassi & Chiara Agnoletti & Leonardo Piccini, 2019. "Polycentricity and regional development: an analytical framework and some evidence from Italy," Discussion Papers 2019/249, Dipartimento di Economia e Management (DEM), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
    4. Emanuela Raffinetti & Elena Siletti & Achille Vernizzi, 2017. "Analyzing the Effects of Negative and Non-negative Values on Income Inequality: Evidence from the Survey of Household Income and Wealth of the Bank of Italy (2012)," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 133(1), pages 185-207, August.
    5. Wenzheng Li & Stephan Schmidt & Stefan Siedentop, 2024. "Can polycentric urban development simultaneously achieve both economic growth and regional equity? A multi-scale analysis of German regions," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 56(2), pages 525-545, March.
    6. Wan Li & Bindong Sun & Tinglin Zhang, 2019. "Spatial structure and labour productivity: Evidence from prefectures in China," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(8), pages 1516-1532, June.
    7. Chen, Jian & Zhao, Di & He, Bin & Stanojevic, Savo, 2022. "How do fiscally created one-city monopolies cause intra-provincial inequality in China?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    8. Sun, Yefei & Wang, Zhaohua & Yang, Tian & Zhang, Bin & Wang, Bo, 2023. "Polycentric cities and income polarization in China: Does city spatial structure matter?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 380-387.
    9. Lugaric, Luka & Krajcar, Slavko, 2016. "Transforming cities towards sustainable low-carbon energy systems using emergy synthesis for support in decision making," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 471-482.
    10. Luisa Alamá-Sabater & Miguel A. Márquez & Emili Tortosa-Ausina, 2020. "Spatio-sectoral heterogeneity and population-employment dynamics: Some implications for territorial development," Working Papers 2020/24, Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón (Spain).
    11. Mingyu Zhang & Yichen Ruan & Ge Lou & Qiuxiao Chen & Jiayi Wu, 2020. "Measurement of Polycentric County-Level Areas in a Rapid Urbanization Region from a Public Service Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-16, October.

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