Understanding disparities in Slovenian rural areas: various new indicatiors

It has been widely accepted that regional development disparities are multi-faceted: on the one hand they hinder the development potentials of structurally weak rural areas, whilst on the other they stimulate faster development in distinctive, leading areas, thus re-creating old and generating new,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: James Cosier, Eva Šabec, Luka Verlič, Ana Ponikvar, Irena Jenko, Katja Klemenčič, Uroš Gostonj, Marko Kežar, Miha Gamse, Katja Uršič, Jani Pavlovič, Irma Potočnik Slavič
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Zadar 2014-12-01
Series:Geoadria
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=205146
Description
Summary:It has been widely accepted that regional development disparities are multi-faceted: on the one hand they hinder the development potentials of structurally weak rural areas, whilst on the other they stimulate faster development in distinctive, leading areas, thus re-creating old and generating new, more complex, regional differences. The paper focuses on quantitative ways of understanding the nature of rural disparities in Slovenia where the vast majority of national territory is defined as "rural" by OECD indicators. From the methodological perspective, single- and multi-level indicators were observed at the municipal level (LAU-2). Various indicators have been developed, with several looking at new generators of difference as well as indicators tailored to examine development disparities present in Slovenian rural areas. The results gained by extensive quantitative analysis could be used as scientific starting points that could inform rural policy decision makers in various rural regions. The focus on new indicators is particularly important as it highlights the challenges of such research whilst stressing the critical need for continued research into new generators and forms of disparities that may have negative consequences on rural areas, as well as possibly providing opportunities for previously problematic rural areas to address long-term development troubles.
ISSN:1331-2294
1848-9710