engleski

The Role of Cities in Regional Development: Case of Croatia

This paper deals with an economic and developmental role of the cities in regional development in Croatia. The main research goal is to analyze the role of cities and the cooperation between cities and counties in developmental activities. The Republic of Croatia has a two-tier system of sub-national government, towns and municipalities comprise the level of local self-government, while counties represent the regional self-government level. The entire territory of the Republic of Croatia is divided into 555 local government units (126 towns and 429 municipalities) and 21 counties (including Zagreb which is both town and county). Croatia is characterized by highly concentrated much of their population in its capital the City of Zagreb. There are also huge intraregional disproportions according to degree and level of urbanity. In Croatia, the more developed urban areas are along the Adriatic coast, as well as in the area of the capital City of Zagreb. County centers represent centers of regional development, they exert influence and transform the environment, and thus around them, or through agglomeration process the highest population density, with several thousand people per square kilometer. Not only human capital but also economic power has also been absorbed by large cities (county centers), while on the other side, the biggest losers are former industrial cities. Losers of demographic resources and economic capital are also the cities that are geographically rather isolated and have poor transport accessibility. This section will end with the conclusion about the existence of a common feature of towns in Croatia. The paper will also critically evaluate the developmental role of cities that have a stronger fiscal capacity in relation to the county. State financial support have had a important role in development of cities. In the other hand, the results of these measures do not have an appropriate outcome to regional development. In this part of the paper the answer to the question “Why cities are the ones that encompass the entire local and regional development in Croatia?” will be given. Special attention will be given to explanation of the different modes of cooperation between cities and counties in financing of local and regional developmental projects. The paper will conclude with suggestions to improve relations between cities and counties to encourage local and regional development.

local and regional development; urban centers; urbanity; fiscal capacities; Croatia

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