Regional development zones in Finland: territorial cohesion and competitiveness

This article analyses regional development zones (RDZs). RDZs aim to combine economic growth with balanced regional development by directing development in a zonal way between growing centres and less central areas. The zones are generally formed along major roads or railroads between larger centres...

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Main Authors: Jussi S. Jauhiainen, Susanna Harvio, Juho Luukkonen, Helka Moilanen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Geographical Society of Finland 2007-01-01
Series:Fennia: International Journal of Geography
Online Access:https://fennia.journal.fi/article/view/3719
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author Jussi S. Jauhiainen
Susanna Harvio
Juho Luukkonen
Helka Moilanen
author_facet Jussi S. Jauhiainen
Susanna Harvio
Juho Luukkonen
Helka Moilanen
author_sort Jussi S. Jauhiainen
collection DOAJ
description This article analyses regional development zones (RDZs). RDZs aim to combine economic growth with balanced regional development by directing development in a zonal way between growing centres and less central areas. The zones are generally formed along major roads or railroads between larger centres. RDZs cross many administrative borders and physically connect areas to each other. The empirical material of the study is derived from Finnish spatial planning documents at the national, regional and local levels as well as of semi-structural questionnaire (373 answers) and interviews with key actors involved in the studied RDZs. The OuKa RDZ crossing Finland in west-east direction between Oulu and Kuhmo is studied in-depth regarding the goals of the European Union Territorial Agenda. RDZs can become an important integrative tool for territorial cohesion as expressed in the Territorial Agenda. However, a more efficient concentration of functional activities and land use to core RDZ structures, as well as enhancement of the belongingness of inhabitants and key economic actors to the RDZ, are needed for this purpose.
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spelling doaj.art-c6b3b28a832d41819efa70e1d7efb6652022-12-22T01:33:05ZengGeographical Society of FinlandFennia: International Journal of Geography1798-56172007-01-011851Regional development zones in Finland: territorial cohesion and competitivenessJussi S. Jauhiainen0Susanna Harvio1Juho Luukkonen2Helka Moilanen3University of OuluUniversity of OuluUniversity of OuluUniversity of OuluThis article analyses regional development zones (RDZs). RDZs aim to combine economic growth with balanced regional development by directing development in a zonal way between growing centres and less central areas. The zones are generally formed along major roads or railroads between larger centres. RDZs cross many administrative borders and physically connect areas to each other. The empirical material of the study is derived from Finnish spatial planning documents at the national, regional and local levels as well as of semi-structural questionnaire (373 answers) and interviews with key actors involved in the studied RDZs. The OuKa RDZ crossing Finland in west-east direction between Oulu and Kuhmo is studied in-depth regarding the goals of the European Union Territorial Agenda. RDZs can become an important integrative tool for territorial cohesion as expressed in the Territorial Agenda. However, a more efficient concentration of functional activities and land use to core RDZ structures, as well as enhancement of the belongingness of inhabitants and key economic actors to the RDZ, are needed for this purpose.https://fennia.journal.fi/article/view/3719
spellingShingle Jussi S. Jauhiainen
Susanna Harvio
Juho Luukkonen
Helka Moilanen
Regional development zones in Finland: territorial cohesion and competitiveness
Fennia: International Journal of Geography
title Regional development zones in Finland: territorial cohesion and competitiveness
title_full Regional development zones in Finland: territorial cohesion and competitiveness
title_fullStr Regional development zones in Finland: territorial cohesion and competitiveness
title_full_unstemmed Regional development zones in Finland: territorial cohesion and competitiveness
title_short Regional development zones in Finland: territorial cohesion and competitiveness
title_sort regional development zones in finland territorial cohesion and competitiveness
url https://fennia.journal.fi/article/view/3719
work_keys_str_mv AT jussisjauhiainen regionaldevelopmentzonesinfinlandterritorialcohesionandcompetitiveness
AT susannaharvio regionaldevelopmentzonesinfinlandterritorialcohesionandcompetitiveness
AT juholuukkonen regionaldevelopmentzonesinfinlandterritorialcohesionandcompetitiveness
AT helkamoilanen regionaldevelopmentzonesinfinlandterritorialcohesionandcompetitiveness