Open AccessClassification of the Development Areas of the South Transdanubian Region (Hungary)
Author(s) -
Bernadett Horváthné Kovács,
Diána Koponicsné Györke,
Bernadett Nagy,
Kinga Szabó
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
regional and business studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2732-2726
pISSN - 2061-2311
DOI - 10.33568/rbs.2816
Subject(s) - human settlement , tourism , underdevelopment , environmental planning , geography , government (linguistics) , regional science , business , economic growth , economics , linguistics , philosophy , archaeology
The Hungarian Government decided on the establishment of the South Transdanubian Economic Development Zone. The identification of the areas formed by clustering settlements of similar features will help better target development goals and funds to the region. The development concepts of the counties (forming the region) were reviewed and each of the 656 settlements of the region were put into categories. The categories were formed according to the county concepts; classification of the space followed all of the area classifications mentioned in them: development goals, priorities, strategic categories or sectoral targets. It has been found that 291 settlements have not been targeted by the county concepts at all. Further 177 ones are classified as deprived areas either because of their peripheral situation or their underdevelopment status by law. 62 settlements are mentioned as ones to be targeted with either economic development programmes or classified as growth zones. The latter category consists of 26 settlements, which are either growth, industrial, innovative or logistic centres according to the development concepts. Tourism related developments are targeted and may be outbreak points in 176 settlements. The threat to the development of rural areas due to shrinking medium sized cities must be addressed. Our review and classification of South Transdanubian Region’s settlements adds the value of the multifaceted approach through the application of the county development concepts.