In this paper we analyse regional growth in Central and Eastern Europe in the second half of the 1990s, a period in which pronounced disparities between a group of catching-up regions and another group of falling back regions appeared. We aim to identify the factors behind a dynamic growth performance and the weaknesses leading to poor growth and thus investigate the role of (foreign) investment, education and innovation as well as geographical factors in a model of economic growth. The key relationships proposed by this model are then estimated with empirical data for the period 1995-2000 using spatial econometric tools. We find that foreign direct investment was paramount for regional growth in that period. EU border regions and capital areas clearly outperformed others. Further, regional growth clusters have appeared. Surprisingly, the high level of secondary education in Eastern European regions played no role with growth. Higher education, in contrast served to facilitate technology transfer. (author's abstract) / Series: EI Working Papers / Europainstitut

This thesis aims at analyzing why the municipality of Flen, in the eastern part of Sweden, has experienced strong depopulation for the last forty years in spite of its relative vicinity to Stockholm. The study uses current theories on regional developement, population theory and theories on regional enlargment to help explain and to evaluate the different regional factors that affect the developement of Flen on the local level. The thesis is primarily focused on the subject of regional policy and strategies to meet regional depopulation. The study also gives a presentation of the strategies of major regional institutions as well as analyzing what impact regional policy have on local policy in the municipality of Flen. Interviews with local officials, politicians and other people representing the population of Flen were carried out to achieve a better understanding of the specific challenges that the municipality faces and of the measures that are taken to meet them. Regional policy in Sweden prioritises measures that promote regional enlargment to link the housing and labour markets together with the regional infrastructure. Each region should promote and develop its own unique qualities as a way of stimulating growth. This disregards the former notion that the state should strive for regional growth to be achieved equally distributed within its boundaries. The thesis puts forward the view that this development could lead to an allowance for some regions to be neglected by the state. The findings in this study show that the measures that are put in to curb the stagnation in the municipality of Flen are made with difficulty and cannot be financed without external aid. The challenges are to a growing extent no longer managable by the municipality itself which brings me to a final conclusion that predicts that Flen could befavoured in a future municipal reform in which there are clearer connections to Stockholm and to other larger towns in the region, as well as a new delimitation that better takes the functional relationships of the population into account.

O tema deste trabalho centra-se no desenvolvimento regional articulado em diferentes categorias de análise dentro de uma perspectiva econômica. Este enfoque apoia-se em dois aspectos: diversidade e convergência. A diversidade é verificada no campo dos agentes sociais, ou seja, a população, capital humano e suas formas de produção do território. Já a convergência é interpretada na perspectiva política através dos distintos interesses e negociações que viabilizam as dinâmicas regionais. O objeto de estudo constitui-se num contexto regional, o COREDE Norte, no RS, que tem como centro urbano estratégico Erechim, no período compreendido basicamente entre 1991 e 2010. A pesquisa tem como problema de investigação a análise de como tem ocorrido o processo de desenvolvimento na região do COREDE Norte e, mais especialmente, em Erechim. Parte-se da premissa de que o desenvolvimento regional está diretamente relacionado ao conjunto de variáveis capital, trabalho, capital humano e tecnologia, que tendem a adicionar valor e que potencializam os valores econômicos e sociais de uma dada região. Para as análises destas quatro variáveis, o trabalho foi decomposto em 14 indicadores, tendo sido utilizados 111 dados estatísticos, os quais serviram para ratificar a hipótese central da pesquisa. Este trabalho reforça a ideia de que deve ser considerada a criação, no Brasil, da figura jurídica da Região, pois principalmente dadas nossas dimensões territoriais, a divisão em Estados e Municípios tem se apresentado insuficiente para a gestão focada no desenvolvimento. Também mostra a necessidade de que se efetivem as atitudes em escala regional, visto que somente com o fortalecimento de um conjunto de municípios poderemos ver cidades com melhores índices de desenvolvimento e, por consequência, que ofereçam melhor qualidade de vida a seus habitantes. / This work’s theme focuses on regional development articulated in different categories of analysis within an economic perspective. This approach relies on two aspects: diversity and convergence. Diversity is verified in the field of social agents, ie, population, human capital and its forms of production of the territory. Already convergence is interpreted in political perspective through the different interests and negotiations that enable the regional dynamics. The object of study is constituted in a regional context, the COREDE North, in the RS, which has a strategic urban center, Erechim, in the period basically between 1991 and 2010. The research’s question problem is the analysis as has been the development process in COREDE North’s region and more particularly in Erechim. It starts with the premise that regional development is directly associated to the set of variables capital, labor, human capital and technology, which tend to add value and that maximize the economic and social values of a given region. For the analysis of these four variables, the work was broken down into 14 indicators have been used 111 statistics, which served to confirm the central hypothesis of the research. This work reinforces the idea that the creation should be considered, in Brazil, the legal concept of the Region, as especially given our territorial dimensions, the division into states and municipalities has presented insufficient for management focused on the development. It also shows the need to give effect to the actions at the regional level, since only the strengthening of a number of municipalities we see cities with better development indices and therefore providing better quality of life for its inhabitants.

The ability to anticipate and evaluate the combined impacts of urbanization and climate change on streamflow regimes is critical to developing proactive strategies that protect aquatic ecosystems. I developed an interdisciplinary modeling framework to compare and contrast the effectiveness of integrated stormwater management, or its absence, with two regional growth patterns for maintaining streamflow regimes in the context of climate change. In three adjacent urbanizing watersheds in Oregon's Willamette Valley, I conducted a three-step sequence to: 1) simulate land use change under four future development scenarios with the agent-based model Envision; 2) model resultant hydrological change under the recent past and two future climate regimes using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool; and 3) assess scenario impacts on streamflow regimes using 10 ecologically significant flow metrics. I evaluated each scenario in each basin using a flow metric typology based on the magnitude of change in each metric and the degree to which such changes could be mitigated, i.e., insensitive, sensitive and manageable, and sensitive and resistant. My results demonstrated distinct signatures of urbanization and climate change on flow regimes. Urbanization and climate change in isolation led to significant flow alterations in all three basins. Urbanization consistently led to increases in flow regime flashiness and severity of extreme flow events, whereas climate change primarily caused a drying trend. Climate change tended to exacerbate the impacts of urbanization but also mitigated urban impacts on several metrics. The combined impacts of urbanization and climate change caused substantial changes to metric sensitivities, which further differed by basin and climate regime, highlighting the uncertainties of streamflow regime responses to development and the value of spatially explicit modeling that can reveal complex interactions between natural and human systems. Scenario comparisons demonstrated the importance of integrated stormwater management and, secondarily, compact regional growth. My findings reveal the need for regional flow-ecology research that substantiates the ecological significance of each flow metric, develops specific targets for manageable ones, and explores potential remedies for resistant ones. The interdisciplinary modeling framework shows promise as a transferable tool for local watershed management. This dissertation includes previously unpublished co-authored material.

O tema deste trabalho centra-se no desenvolvimento regional articulado em diferentes categorias de análise dentro de uma perspectiva econômica. Este enfoque apoia-se em dois aspectos: diversidade e convergência. A diversidade é verificada no campo dos agentes sociais, ou seja, a população, capital humano e suas formas de produção do território. Já a convergência é interpretada na perspectiva política através dos distintos interesses e negociações que viabilizam as dinâmicas regionais. O objeto de estudo constitui-se num contexto regional, o COREDE Norte, no RS, que tem como centro urbano estratégico Erechim, no período compreendido basicamente entre 1991 e 2010. A pesquisa tem como problema de investigação a análise de como tem ocorrido o processo de desenvolvimento na região do COREDE Norte e, mais especialmente, em Erechim. Parte-se da premissa de que o desenvolvimento regional está diretamente relacionado ao conjunto de variáveis capital, trabalho, capital humano e tecnologia, que tendem a adicionar valor e que potencializam os valores econômicos e sociais de uma dada região. Para as análises destas quatro variáveis, o trabalho foi decomposto em 14 indicadores, tendo sido utilizados 111 dados estatísticos, os quais serviram para ratificar a hipótese central da pesquisa. Este trabalho reforça a ideia de que deve ser considerada a criação, no Brasil, da figura jurídica da Região, pois principalmente dadas nossas dimensões territoriais, a divisão em Estados e Municípios tem se apresentado insuficiente para a gestão focada no desenvolvimento. Também mostra a necessidade de que se efetivem as atitudes em escala regional, visto que somente com o fortalecimento de um conjunto de municípios poderemos ver cidades com melhores índices de desenvolvimento e, por consequência, que ofereçam melhor qualidade de vida a seus habitantes. / This work’s theme focuses on regional development articulated in different categories of analysis within an economic perspective. This approach relies on two aspects: diversity and convergence. Diversity is verified in the field of social agents, ie, population, human capital and its forms of production of the territory. Already convergence is interpreted in political perspective through the different interests and negotiations that enable the regional dynamics. The object of study is constituted in a regional context, the COREDE North, in the RS, which has a strategic urban center, Erechim, in the period basically between 1991 and 2010. The research’s question problem is the analysis as has been the development process in COREDE North’s region and more particularly in Erechim. It starts with the premise that regional development is directly associated to the set of variables capital, labor, human capital and technology, which tend to add value and that maximize the economic and social values of a given region. For the analysis of these four variables, the work was broken down into 14 indicators have been used 111 statistics, which served to confirm the central hypothesis of the research. This work reinforces the idea that the creation should be considered, in Brazil, the legal concept of the Region, as especially given our territorial dimensions, the division into states and municipalities has presented insufficient for management focused on the development. It also shows the need to give effect to the actions at the regional level, since only the strengthening of a number of municipalities we see cities with better development indices and therefore providing better quality of life for its inhabitants.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / O foco principal do trabalho à providenciar uma melhor compreensÃo empÃrica do diferencial de renda entre as regiÃes brasileiras. Com base nos modelos de crescimento endÃgenos, as teorias recentes tÃm debatido os modelos neo schumpeterianos onde a inovaÃÃo tecnolÃgica lanÃa fortes evidÃncias para externalidades positivas no crescimento. Spillovers de idÃias sÃo medidos atravÃs de modelos economÃtricos, espacialmente entre regiÃes, no processo de geraÃÃo de externalidades. Duas distintas conclusÃes sÃo retiradas dos resultados deste trabalho. Primeiro, existe uma forte evidÃncia da forte ligaÃÃo entre P&D e spillover no tempo com aumentos nos retornos da produÃÃo. Segundo, à verificada uma significante regionalizaÃÃo de efeito spillover positivo, o que indica que a inovaÃÃo à complementar entre as regiÃes, no processo de distribuiÃÃo regional das idÃias. / The main focus of this paper is to provide better empirical comprehension of the income differential among brazilian regions. In the scope of the endogenous growth models framework, recent theoretical debates have relied on neo-schumpeterian models where technological innovation has launched strong evidence toward positive externalities on growth. Spillovers of ideas are measured through Econometric models, spatially across regions, in the process of generating externalities. Two distinct conclusions were drawn from the results. First, there is evidence of a strong feedback in the R&D toward spillover over time with increasing returns in production. Second, it is verified a significant regionally positive spillover effect, which indicates that the inovation is to complement among regions, in the process of regional distribuition of the ideias.

International airports play very important role in transport infrastructure of each state because they bring some contribution to economic increase. Main attributes are proper localization of airport and stable demand on air transportation. If these two basic conditions are fulfilled, airport can be considered as a pole of the growth and development which increases employment and also helps to other regional development. This diploma thesis should analyze the international airport Prague--Ruzyně and evaluates economic contribution, spatial and social-economic development of the airport with the view of present trends in civil aviation, regulatory system of European Union and of the Czech Republic and with regard for complete progress of world economy.

This paper seeks to provide further insight as to why local Ghanaian firms may not be pursuing regional growth as a strategy, as publicly available data would suggest. The study uses Resource Based Theory and Institutional Theory to identify a range of factors that may be influencing, at a firm level, the decision whether or not to pursue a regional growth strategy. The study draws upon a sample of 65 Top Tier Local Ghanaian Companies. A key finding of this study is that a large number of local companies were providing services or products to the regional market. Evidence suggest that although local firms were at the early stage of internationalization, due to various factors identified in the study, these firms had chosen not to formally commit resources in pursuing regional growth as the traditional ―Stage Theory‖ of Internationalization would suggest. The result of the study highlights certain risk to managers and owners choosing not to actively pursue a regional growth strategy. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Having an understanding of when, where, and why people settle in an area is crucial in explaining the growth course of a city. However, this cannot be done by looking at a city in isolation. Its surrounding region has a tremendous impact on its development. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the growth of Los Angeles from a regional perspective, called the Los Angeles city-system, which consists of Los Angeles and its hinterland. Connections are made between the history and the geography of the Los Angeles city-system by examining the spatial distribution of population within the region between 1769 and 2000. The Hoover Index of Population Concentration is used to determine the population concentration, and major shifts in the concentration are illuminated by the geography and historical events of the Los Angeles area. The main factors contributing to the changing concentration were the region's physical geography, the introduction of transportation innovations, the region's economic structure, historical and political events, and migration trends. It was found that the counties in closest proximity to Los Angeles County are becoming more alike, while the more peripheral counties are becoming more different. This has led to a greater understanding of urban/periphery growth economics.

Both Sweden and the European Union have set numerous goals to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses. At the same time, regional growth is desired in most, if not all of Sweden’s counties. With economic- and population growth being essential for reaching this desire, there is a potential conflict brewing. Is it feasible to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses while at the same time actively working on growing the economy and the population?This paper has explored this idea in Sweden largest counties Stockholm, Skåne and Västra Götaland. The development in these counties over the last decade or so show that reduced emissions and regional growth in fact have been compatible. Not only that, the county with the largest population, population growth and largest gross regional product, Stockholm, has also had the largest decrease in greenhouse gas emission over the period. The trend of the emission reductions in these three counties are also compatible with the Swedish and European emission targets. However, the trend does indicate the actual development of greenhouse gas emission over a longer period. The findings indicate that reduced greenhouse gas emission can and have coexisted with regional growth.