Regional policy

Z Encyklopedia Administracji Publicznej

REGIONAL POLICY – activities of public authorities, which should lead to the socio-economic development of regions, in order to optimally use their resources for economic growth and improving their competitiveness, boost regional development and reduce spatial development disparities. One can speak of the two dimensions of the r.p.: 1. activities carried out by the state (comprehensive national policy) and 2. initiatives addressed to individual regions (policy for the benefit of the region). The subject of the r.p. in the first dimension is the state, in the second dimension – regional self-government authorities, in Polish conditions – self-government voivodships. The goal of the r.p. is: 1. strengthening the competitiveness of regions and providing equal opportunities for regions; 2. using the human potential and raw material potential and possibilities found in regional products and services; 3. improving the employment situation in the region; 4. improving the spatial development and quality of life of residents; 5. supporting the development of science and cooperation between the sphere of science and economy, supporting technological progress and innovation; 6. supporting the development of culture and taking care of cultural heritage and its rational use, promotion of advantages and development opportunities of the voivodship. The basis for determining the directions of the r.p. is the diagnosis of the region’s development – defining such factors as labor force/human capital, universities and research infrastructure, transport infrastructure, services, economic activity, location, landscape conditions. Self-government authorities run an independent r.p. based on local resources and opportunities (→ region; regional operational programme; voivodship development strategy) [ E. Szulc-Wałecka ].

Literature: Gospodarka regionalna i lokalna [Regional and local economy], ed. Z. Strzelecki, Warszawa 2009.

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