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Polycentricity – one concept or many?

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  • Daniel Rauhut

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss polycentrism and its implications. Polycentricity plays a key role in EU Cohesion Policy and has done so since 1999 when the notion was included in the European Spatial Development Perspective. Politically, it emerged as a key tool because of its ability to fuse together the two primary and conflicting perceptions of spatial–economic development, cohesion and competitiveness. No agreed definition of polycentricity exists. Furthermore, different actors and disciplines define polycentrism differently. The absence of a concise and coherent definition makes it difficult to measure polycentricity. Moreover, several studies have concluded that it is difficult to identify empirical evidence to support the positive claims made in its name. Polycentrism is assumed toolbox to reduce regional disparities, but polycentric countries display higher regional disparities than monocentric countries. Polycentric countries do not perform better than monocentric countries with regard to competitiveness and GDP/cap. As such, this paper concludes that not only does the political meaning of polycentricity struggle over aims with the inherit dichotomy at its heart, it also struggles in terms of basic credibility.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Rauhut, 2017. "Polycentricity – one concept or many?," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(2), pages 332-348, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurpls:v:25:y:2017:i:2:p:332-348
    DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2016.1276157
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andreas Faludi, 2007. "Territorial Cohesion Policy and the European Model of Society1," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(4), pages 567-583, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Lanfredi, Maria & Egidi, Gianluca & Bianchini, Leonardo & Salvati, Luca, 2022. "One size does not fit all: A tale of polycentric development and land degradation in Italy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    3. Liang Zhang & Linlin Zhang & Xue Liu, 2022. "Evaluation of Urban Spatial Growth Performance from the Perspective of a Polycentric City: A Case Study of Hangzhou," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Mi Ye & Ben Derudder & Lei Jiang & Freke Caset & Yingcheng Li, 2023. "The Effects of Urban Polycentricity on Particulate Matter Emissions From Vehicles: Evidence From 102 Chinese Cities," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(3), pages 135-147.
    5. Weikai Wang & Ya Ping Wang & Keith Kintrea, 2020. "The (Re)Making of Polycentricity in China's Planning Discourse: The Case of Tianjin," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(5), pages 857-875, September.
    6. Zi Ye & Chen Zou & Yongchun Huang, 2022. "Impact of Heterogeneous Spatial Structure on Regional Innovation—From the Perspectives of Efficiency and Gap," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, September.
    7. Seny Kan, Konan A. & Agbodjo, Serge & Gandja, Serge V., 2021. "Accounting polycentricity in Africa: Framing an ‘accounting and development’ research agenda," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).

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