Book: Regional Diversity and Local Development in the New Member States in English

In economies once dominated by centralised planning and large-scale enterprise, models of local development can play a crucial role in restructuring and revitalising the economy. This book contributes to the topical debate concerning the economics of European integration, by focusing on the EU member states of Central and Eastern Europe, and their convergence to a Western-European form of advanced capitalist economy. It recognises the significant role of local development and SME development to socio-economic transformations in the post-communist societies. However, it is increasingly acknowledged that the reality of transformation involves divergence as well as convergence, and the reproduction of deep-rooted historical disparities as well as innovation and creativity. The book includes a wide comparative and in-depth analysis, through a substantial number of new case-studies, it provides a critical reading of the regionally and locally existing socio-economic disparities, which constrain and facilitate local development within the EU enlargement. This volume includes contributions from a wide range of experts on transition economics, entrepreneurship and local development, and will be of great interest to scholars and policy-makers in these crucial areas.

Introduction:Regional Diversity and Local Development in the New Member States; P.Blokker & B.DallagoPART I: REGIONAL DIVERSITY IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPETime Horizon and Institutional Underpinnings of Local Development; A.SurdejRegional Development in Central and Eastern Europe; G.GorzelakLocal Development in European Union Perspective: Cohesion and Regional Policies in Central and Eastern Europe; C.GuglielmettiPoland's Great Transformation and the Lessons to be Learnt; G.W.KolodkoRegional Labour Market Developments in Transition; P.HuberRegional Development Effects of Foreign Direct Investment in Central and Eastern Europe; P.PavlinekPART II: EUROPEAN INTEGRATION, REGIONAL DISPARITIES, AND DEVELOPMENTAL STRATEGIES IN NEW AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBER STATESLocal Development and Local Policy in Hungary - Challenges and Perspectives in Changing Circumstances; É.RuttkayLocal Government in the Process of Transformation; A.Gasior-NiemiecSocial Benefits and Administrative Strains: the Golden Burden of EU Funds at the Subnational Level in Romania; S.IonitaMultiple Shocks and Changes in the Development Gradient of Croatia's Regions?; I.Bićanić