Regional Unbalanced Development: Theoretical Basis and Chinese Practice

In North-eastern Nigeria, the Gongola region has been one of the least developed since independence. The series of geopolitical reorganizations since 1967 which lead to the gradual and consistent decentralization of the processes of social, economic and political transformation and the reduction of spatial inequalities in development within the country appeared to have little impact on urban development in the region. The concern of this paper is to determine the pattern of urban development achieved in the region as a single administrative entity, to explore the specific and theoretical factors that were responsible for the existing pattern of urban development, and make suggestions on how to guide future planning to influence pattern of urbanization in the region, in the desired manner. To achieve these objectives, data were collected on eleven indicators of development in all the local government areas of the region and subjected to principal factor analysis, to most important form or spatial structure of regional development. The result generated five dimensions of regional development. The most important dimension identified i.e., urban infrastructure development, was subjected to spatial autocorrelation analysis (using the join-count statistics), in order to determine the likelihood of existence of any spatial association in the observed pattern. The result indicates that the pattern of urban infrastructure development appear to be associated with some deliberate and systematic process of public policy making that promoted urban development at the early stages of the region's political development. The result also shows that the general pattern of economic development in the region has tended to favour locations surrounding the more urbanized areas thereby introducing spatial inequalities and neglect of the more rural places. The paper suggests strengthening of a system of geopolitical growth centers in the more rural areas and the adoption of a grass root approach to Development Planning in the region as a panacea for redressing spatial inequalities in the regional development process. Keywords: Region, Development, Planning, Urban, Gongola. (Global Journal of Social Sciences: 2003 2 (1): 65-78)

Pilot reforms gradually implemented through key nodes have become an important pattern of regional development in China since the policy of reform and opening up was introduced in 1978. On the basis of an analysis of the evolution processes and characteristics of regional development policies in post-reform China, this paper develops the concept and analytical framework of national node strategies (NNS), defined as regional development strategies centered on specific spatial nodes, by addressing their theoretical basis and research scope. The regional economic impacts of NNS were explored quantitatively through the examples of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, Pudong New Area and Tianjin Binhai New Area in different stages of the reform and opening up. The results indicate that the evolution of China’s regional development policies can be divided into three stages: the exploration stage led by Special Economic Zones (SEZs), the expansion stage dominated by Economic Development Zones and the optimization stage featuring State-level New Areas and National Comprehensive Reform Pilot Areas. During all the three stages, NNS have played an important demonstrative and leading role and promoted the rapid evolution of China’s regional development policies from localized to widespread implementation, and the role of the government has also changed accordingly. As an innovative application and development of the growth pole theory in transitional China, NNS have become engines of regional development as well as important conduits of institutional innovations. NNS and regional development have achieved a benign coupling and formed a gradated regional development model. Empirical research indicates that NNS are an important method used by the government to guide and regulate regional economic development, with complex and diverse economic effects that differ depending on the stage of regional development and the spatial scale of analysis.

Given the trend of increasing imbalance in the economic development of administrative-territorial units and ensuring their innovative development, the issue of upgrading the effectiveness of the anti-crisis regional policy is becoming urgent. The research aim is to develop an econometric model for assessing the impact of asymmetries in the development of urban economies on the regional socio-economic development based on the case of Kazakhstan. The article establishes a sample of indicators of socio-economic development of cities and regions in Kazakhstan in 2014-2018. The governance indicators of the influence of the asymmetry in urban development on the regional socio-economic development in Kazakhstan have been determined based on the Granger causality test, the creation of a cognitive map and the identification of hierarchy levels. The asymmetry in regional development has been estimated applying the coefficient of variation of the relevant indicators of socio-economic development of cities and regions, taking into account the lagged variables. The developed model allows determining the convergence model of regional development, the nature of the influence of asymmetries in the development of cities on the regional economic development in the context of economic growth and recession, as well as identifying the key factors in the asymmetry of regional development. The results are based on reliable data; they are of practical importance and can serve as the basis for the elaboration of effective preventive measures for anti-crisis regional development policy, not only to neutralize asymmetries, but also to achieve economic growth under the conditions of unbalanced regional development.

A ideia de desenvolvimento ganha força ao longo do século XX, a recorrente distinção entre crescimento e desenvolvimento econômico no plano histórico toma sentido a partir do entrelaçamento entre o aumento da produção e renda per capita e, ao mesmo tempo, mudanças profundas na sociedade. O tema de desenvolvimento, com enfoque para além do crescimento econômico, relacionando aspectos de qualidade de vida, sustentabilidade ambiental e equidade social e cultural, vem ganhando destaque nas discussões da área das ciências sociais. A busca por sociedades democraticamente qualificadas, atuando de forma indissociada aos interesses exclusivos da coletividade, sinaliza a necessidade de desenvolver redes de cooperação, baseadas na confiança e colaboração mútuas. Destaca-se a existência de conselhos regionais no sentido de exercer o controle social, mas também a articulação representativa e de desenvolvimento regional. Também as universidades, sobretudo as públicas, têm um compromisso social com o desenvolvimento regional; a propósito, as universidades são vetores indutores de desenvolvimento regional, conectando-se com o mundo ao mesmo tempo que se enraízam regionalmente, com efeitos na produção e no consumo da economia, que repercutem de forma multiplicadora nas estruturas espaciais, sobretudo nas cidades em que estão localizadas. Neste sentido, o estudo em tela teve como objetivo realizar um levantamento de publicações acerca da participação de universidades no processo de desenvolvimento regional, de 2008 a 2016, para analisar em quais óticas a contribuição universitária para o desenvolvimento regional vem sendo estudada. Para isso, utilizou-se a análise bibliométrica, realizada a partir da coleta de dados nas plataformas Scopus e Redalyc. Os resultados mostram que, apesar de o tema ter ganhado certa evidência no último quinquênio, ainda há carência de pesquisas que discutam com profundidade a relação das universidades como desenvolvimento regional.

The impact of teleconnections of built-up land on unbalanced regional development and spatial carbon balance

The article explores the conception of the "Digital City" as a tool for ensuring sustainable regional development. The article examines the key components of the system and the impact of digitalization on quality of life, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. The relevance of implementing this model in Ukraine, considering international experience, is emphasized. The article aims to investigate approaches to ensuring the socioeconomic well-being of regions through the integration of digital systems into regional development processes. The article employs a multidisciplinary approach, including an analysis of international experience in implementing digital cities (Barcelona, Singapore, Tallinn), a comparative analysis of their approaches and practices, and an assessment of Ukraine’s readiness for digitalization based on the case of the "Diia" mobile application. Methods of comparative analysis, systematization, and forecasting are applied to identify the key components of the "Digital City" and the pathways for its implementation. The study concludes that the "Digital City" conception promotes the integration of modern technologies into administration processes and improves the urban environment. It demonstrates that international experience is valuable for developing digital platforms in Ukraine, particularly in addressing challenges such as uneven regional development, low transparency in governance, and digital inequality. Recommendations are proposed for the phased implementation of this conception in Ukraine through the expansion of the "Diia" application’s functionality and the integration of digital platforms into transport, energy, ecology, and administrative services. The research encompasses international experiences with the implementation of the digital city conception, the specific local challenges in Ukraine, and ways to adapt these models. Further studies could focus on detailing methodologies for integrating digital solutions into specific sectors (transport, energy, social services) and minimizing digital inequality among regions.

Purpose: to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the development strategy of the Transcarpathian region for the period until 2027 in terms of creating conditions to ensure the preservation and strengthening of the health of the population in the region.Materials and methods. Materials: Development Strategy of Transcarpathian region for the period until 2027. Methods: bibliosemantic, of structural-and-logical analysis.Results. The strategy consists of an introduction and seven sections. It presents a description of the main trends and problems of socio-economic development of the region, an analysis of strong sides, opportunities of development, weak sides and threats to the development of the region, scenarios for the development of the regional economy, strategic vision of the development of the region.Three strategic goals are presented: «People-centered development», «Increasing the competitiveness of the region», «Environmental protection and balanced development of mountainous and rural areas of the region». Each strategic goal includes operational goals and objectives and possible areas of project implementation. On a par with the economic development of the region, the issues of preserving and strengthening the health of the population are a priority in the Strategy. Objectives of the operational goal 1.3. «Formation of an accessible, inclusive, health-preserving space for physical recovery and human development» are: ensuring the functioning of a capable public health system and the formation of a healthy lifestyle; formation of a capable network of health care institutions at all levels (including the creation of rehabilitation departments); maternity and childhood protection, dissemination of knowledge and practices on reproductive health; expansion of the network of institutions and creation of an inclusive sports infrastructure.Other strategic and operational goals and their tasks are aimed at creating safe living conditions, an optimal environment for human health and the possibility of ensuring health-preserving behavior. The development of security and civil protection infrastructure involves promoting the development of a centralized warning system and increasing the fund of protective structures of civil protection, taking into account the principles of inclusiveness and barrier-free, and promoting the formation of security centers in territorial communities. The development of the tourism and health sector provides the development and improvement of the quality of tourist and health infrastructure, the expansion of the range of services and the development of a regional network of tourist routes and tourist visits. Important conditions for preserving and changing the health of the population are the implementation of the measures of operational goal 3.1 «Preservation and reproduction of biological and landscape diversity, natural complexes, water, land and forest resources, expansion of the regional ecological network», operational goal 3.2. «Environmentally friendly space of the region» and operational goal 3.3. «Equalization of disproportions in the socio-economic development of mountainous and rural areas».The strategic goals of the Strategy are largely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. This connection shows that the Development Strategy of the Transcarpathian region for the period until 2027 corresponds to the vision of Ukraine's achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals for the period up to 2030.Thus, the strategy for the development of the Transcarpathian region consists in the following vision of the region: «Transcarpathian region is a region with unique opportunities for creating new projects and ideas, the southwestern gateway of Ukraine to the European Union, an attractive land where residents work together with authorities and local governments to achieve comfortable living conditions, the land of preservation of cultural and historical monuments, traditions and nature; an area where the balance of industrial development and preservation of unique natural resources is observed; a region where you want to live and work.» Conclusions. The Development Strategy of the Transcarpathian region for the period up to 2027 is a document that defines trends and main problems of socio-economic development of the region, strategic and operational goals, priorities of the development of the region for the relevant period, the main tasks, stages and mechanisms of their financing and implementation, a system of monitoring and evaluating performance. Considerable attention in the Strategy is payed to the optimization of conditions for preserving and strengthening the health of the population in the region.

Spatial distribution characteristics of natural ecological resilience in China

The implementation of non-equilibrium development through non-balance policy among different regions is one of the most significant characteristics of China mode. The regional development mode supported by the regional plans and policies in China is stepping into regional coordination development after the stages of the initial development of the eastern area, development of the west, revitalization in the northeast, and rise of central region. Under the government-oriented market economy system, the orientation effect that local governments pursue the administrative achievements is the important interior motive for regional development. However, the performance appraisal mainly based on GDP will easily lead to the vicious competition together with similar structure among regions, the ignorance of interregional cooperation, and the friendly interaction with external environments. Meanwhile, the present regional development evaluation methods, which emphasize interior all-side elements and their quantity matching through the index setting in terms of dimensionality and weight, face the serious conflict against the real fact of regional division based on each advantage supported by resource endowment and regional cooperation based on exchange, inter-regional arrangement and hierarchical governments. Thus, it is quite necessary to construct a more reasonable method of regional coordination development evaluation. In this paper, according to system theory and coordination theory, a two-level and five-dimension analysis framework of regional coordination development is proposed, and a evaluation model for appraising the status of coordination development of both national level and regional level from the corresponding dimension is established.

In article the problem of overcoming a peripheral state and activization of development of economy underdeveloped the agrarnooriyentirovannykh of regions of Russia as one of the directions of ensuring the balanced territorial development of the country and realization of integration effect of synergy and also weakening of the contradictions and threats connected with big differences of social and economic levels of regions is considered. The author of article sets tasks: definition of type of the problematical character inherent in underdeveloped regions of the certain country in a mirror of the known Theory of peripheral economy of the countries of the world; identification of the lag reasons, characteristic of type of problematical character, in development; search and justification of the directions and measures of achievement of the self-movement of regions in development; definition of a role of the state and civil institutes in a solution of the problem of activization of development of underdeveloped regions. A basis of a research are fundamental works of domestic and foreign scientists in the field of regional studies and problems of development of the backward countries of the world. During the research the cross-disciplinary and statistical types of the analysis allowing to develop conceptual approaches to development of backward regions are used. As a result of a research the factors influencing reproduction of a chronic condition of backwardness of underdeveloped regions, existence of the altruistic and egoistical beginnings in qualities of a condition of the public environment are defined. An assessment of a role of public administration and civil activity in activization of development of regions with economy of peripheral character is given. The thesis about refusal of dogma of the developed interregional division of labor is proved, the regions of agrarian specialization deprived of a minimum of the industrial enterprises are doomed to loss of a commercial crop, modernization lag and preservation of economic vegetation. A key link of the institutional transformations directed to activization of development of the country and its regions, the author considers need of regeneration of the existing public administration. Achievement of responsibility of subjects of management of all levels for effectiveness of social and economic development has to be a purpose at the same time. Scientific developments and the offered approach to overcoming the contradictions connected with uneven development of regions of the country can be used when developing measures of the institutional transformations directed to activization of development of regions with economy of peripheral character.

The research aims at the development of theoretical and methodological provisions connected with developing the regional informatization process. There is a need in identifying the approach to designing and supporting information policy dealing with informatiztion development on the regional level. The article puts forward a conceptual model, which grounds the necessity of the complex approach to estimation and optimization of the process of regional informatization development. The model implies systematization and amendment of the existing theoretical and methodological provisions and approaches connected with estimation and optimization of development. With the help of methodological tools proposed within the frames of the model the complex and diversified approach to the problem of regional informatization can be possible. It includes the key components of information policy: identifying the level of information and technological potential of the regional economy development, obtaining the adequate estimation of efficiency of the current development of information and technological processes in different sectors and hierarchical levels of the regional economic system with subsequent development and substantiation of mechanisms of optimizing the information process development. Within the frames of the model the author grounds the need to extend methodological basis connected with the development of practical mechanism of optimizing the process of regional informatization development as one of the most important tools of information policy. The findings of the research can be used in the process of designing and correcting regional strategic programs of informatization development and as a material for further theoretical and applied research in the field of developing information and technological processes of regional economic systems.

Este artigo explora os aportes da aprendizagem organizacional na indústria de móveis e no desenvolvimento regional. O objetivo do estudo foi o de compreender, no fomento ao desenvolvimento regional, o panorama atual da aprendizagem organizacional nas indústrias de móveis da Regiões Fronteira Noroeste e Celeiro/RS, participantes do Projeto de Extensão produtiva e Inovação - PEPI em relação à operacionalização no cotidiano organizacional e sua utilização como diferencial competitivo. Em termos metodológicos, o estudo multicaso, de campo, exploratória e descritiva. As fontes foram documentais, bibliográficas e com entrevistas com empresários e atores integrantes do projeto. Em termos de resultados, o estudo destaca a relevância de iniciativas de cooperação que abrangem o Estado, as Universidades e Empresários, articulados com demais agentes de fomento, como mecanismo de apoio, assessoria, capacitação e promoção da inovação nas cadeias produtivas. Evidencias indicam a importância dos processos de aprendizagem organizacional, destacando as pessoas, processos e estruturas das empresas. A partir do PEPI as empresas da cadeia moveleira se fortaleceram, aumentaram a produção, produtividade e competitividade, indicando aportes positivos nos processos de desenvolvimento regional.
 Palavras Chave: Aprendizagem organizacional. Inovação. Cadeia Moveleira. Desenvolvimento Regional.

Lin G. C. S. Scaling-up regional development in globalizing China: local capital accumulation, land-centred politics, and reproduction of space, Regional Studies. Drawing on insights from political economy and Third World political ecology, this study identifies a new process of regional development in globalizing southern China where municipalities have engaged in a land-based and city-centred development as a means of original capital accumulation. Global capitalism and reshuffling of the socialist political economy have given rise to a strategy to scale-up the urban region and reproduce space for locally controlled development. Subsequent gain in growth and competitiveness has been accompanied by increased inequality and social discontents. Greater attention needs to be devoted to the social and political origins of regional development. Lin G. C. S. Un aménagement du territoire à l'échelle en Chine au moment de la mondialisation: l'accumulation du capital local, la politique centrée sur l'occupation du sol, et la redéfinition de l'espace, Regional Studies. La résurgence du régionalisme, suite à la course à la mondialisation, a fait faire le point aux spécialistes sur quelques atouts relationnels d'envergure régionale comme sources d'un aménagement du territoire dynamique, innovateur et compétitif. Toujours est-il que des recherches récentes ont laissé supposer que les liens externes jouent un rôle aussi important, sinon plus important, que ne le jouent les rapports internes. Cet article cherche à évaluer d'un oeil critique le débat sur les facteurs endogènes et exogènes dans l'aménagement du territoire. Puisant dans des aperçus théoriques tirés de l'économie politique et de l'écologie politique du Tiers monde, cet article cherche à analyser aussi les causes et les conséquences de la politique d'aménagement du territoire récente en Guangdong, dans le sud de la Chine. Aménagement du territoire Economie politique Occupation du sol Chine Delta de la Pearl Lin G. C. S. Aufwertung der Regionalentwicklung in der Globalisierung von China: Ansammlung von Lokalkapital, landzentrierte Politiken und Reproduktion von Raum, Regional Studies. Die Renaissance des Regionalismus nach dem Globalisierungsfieber hat die Aufmerksamkeit der Akademiker auf regional spezifisches relationales Kapital als Quelle einer dynamischen, innovativen und konkurrenzfähigen Regionalentwicklung gelenkt. Aus den aktuellen Studien geht jedoch hervor, dass extraregionale Verknüpfungen eine nicht weniger wichtige, wenn nicht sogar größere Rolle spielen als interne Beziehungen. In diesem Beitrag wird die anhaltende Debatte über Endogenismus und Exogenismus in der Studie der Regionalentwicklung kritisch bewertet. Ausgehend von theoretischen Einblicken der politischen Wirtschaft und der politischen Ökologie der Dritten Welt werden in diesem Artikel die Ursachen und Folgen der jüngsten Regionalentwicklung in der südchinesischen Provinz Guangdong analysiert. Regionalentwicklung Politische Wirtschaft Landnutzung China Perlflussdelta Lin G. C. S. Mejorar el desarrollo regional en la China globalizada: acumulación de capital local, políticas sobre el uso de terreno y reproducción del espacio, Regional Studies. El resurgimiento del regionalismo tras la fiebre de la globalización ha hecho modificar la atención académica hacia ventajas relacionales específicamente regionales como fuentes de desarrollo regional dinámico, innovador y competitivo. Sin embargo, en recientes estudios se ha demostrado que los vínculos extra-regionales han desempeñado un papel no menos importante, o hasta mayor, que el de las relaciones internas. En este artículo se evalúa desde un punto de vista crítico el debate permanente sobre endogenismo y exogenismo en el estudio del desarrollo regional. Basándonos en perspectivas teóricas sobre la economía política y la ecología política del Tercer Mundo, en este ensayo analizo las causas y consecuencias del reciente desarrollo regional en la provincia de Guangdong, al sur de China. Desarrollo regional Economía política Uso de terreno China Delta del río Pearl

We hear more and more about the necessity of "sustainable regional development" as an alternative to and defense against globalization. While we certainly agree with this notion, we ask what might prevent it from becoming yet another "top-down" development scheme with good intentions but dubious results. We would argue that no road to development is sustainable if it is not deeply democratic and reliant on an informed, concerned public; the expressed needs of the public must be an essential aspect of regional development. Our focus here is on the university, the main supplier of the experts and technologies utilized by the undemocratic processes of globalization, but it might also be a partner in a democratic process of regional sustainable development. To do this, however, experts in academia must resist the temptation to assume they know what is best and work in concert with community forces to define and create sustainable development. To put it simply, if experts and planners in the university want to know what a region wants and needs, they have to ask. What follows is a report on the experience of one university's attempt to do just that.

I attempt to advance the research on globalization and regional development in China through a study of Kunshan City. I investigate the restructuring process, the structure of foreign direct investment, and the nature of global–local networks to understand trajectories and models of regional development in the context of globalization. I highlight the interactions of the Chinese state, transnational corporations (TNCs), and regional assets in shaping the trajectories of regional development. I argue that Kunshan's pathway to globalizing regional development is state centered and heavily dependent on global forces, which has made Kunshan a TNC satellite district and a dual city segmented between TNCs and domestic firms. I also argue that TNCs' local embeddedness has to be positioned in their global and external networks and that the assessment of regional development has to be conditioned upon a region's specific context. The findings suggest that neither new regionalism nor global production network perspectives can fully explain regional development in China with huge domestic markets and large regional disparities. I promote an alternative, middle-ground perspective to regional development to better integrate global forces, state institutions, and local contexts. Such a third approach to regional development has the potential to localize TNCs and to develop indigenous capacities.