Evina Sofianou (p), Georgios Aretoulis

Francesco Perugini

Contemporary spatial planning objectives adhere to the idea that polycentric spatial patterns based on even distribution of population, economic and social performances are more sustainable than monocentric forms. The concept of polycentricity is a pivotal point for academic research and spatial policy literature during the last decades. Polycentricity is a multi-scalar notion indicating interrelations among spatial configurations with their neighboring territories creating polycentric networks. In this aspect, there is a positive correlation between polycentric structures and competitiveness, as areas within a network are encouraged to interact in a synergetic way. On the whole, rural areas and small and medium-sized urban centres could benefit from positive spillover effects stimulating sustainable regional performance and reducing regional disparities. Architectural assets are seen as a living part of cultural heritage and a main indicator of integration in polycentric networks.

The present paper attempts to provide new insights for refining the spatial development of urban and rural areas of Northern Greece towards sustainable regional development. The focus is on a Greek remote region, the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace with strong spatial inequalities but also, numerous prospects of territorial, social and economic cohesion. This study investigates the challenges of creating polycentric networks within the study area, with appointed architectural landmarks in urban and rural agglomerations being the potential network nodes. The research goal is threefold: i) to compile and assemble all qualitative and quantitative polycentricity indicators (namely, size and location of the urban and rural areas examined, transportation infrastructure and connectivity), ii) to evaluate the nodes’ competitiveness and iii) to highlight new polycentric networks. Due to the multidimensionality of polycentricity and competitiveness assessment, Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is applied as the proposed methodology, in order to examine competing multiple criteria and choose alternatives, in this case network nodes, with advantages or disadvantages, to enhance various polycentric networks covering the study areas extents. The paper’s ultimate goal is to present a comparative analysis of selected MCDA techniques to provide with a more holistic approach in relation to the objectives set. Research on polycentric development of urban and rural areas with regard to MCDA methods remains quite limited thus, the proposed methodology is expected to contribute to the field of regional competitiveness and territorial cohesion.

Francesco Perugini (p), Donato Iacobucci, Fabio Pieri

Nicholas Lazarou

The Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on entrepreneurial activities in many countries. Italy was one of the most affected countries in the European Union. Data shows that there has been a consistent decline in business start-up, but contrary to expectations and to what has been observed in other crisis period, business closure also dropped by 15.1%. This means that compared to the previous year almost 54 thousand firms did not shut down. Data also shows that firm registration has been geographically and sectorally uneven. There are various factors that have been put forward to explain firms’ exit during the COVID-19 spread. A relevant role has been played by governments’ financial supports. The main aim of this paper is to empirically investigate how firms exit changed following the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Results shows a statistically not significant impact of the pandemic and a statistically significant impact of the government intervention on firms deregistration especially in those provinces with a less dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Pablo Casa, Tryfonas Christou, Abián García Rodríguez, Nicholas Lazarou (p), Patrizio Lecca, Philippe Monfort, and Simone Salotti

Joaquim Oliveira Martins

Mission-led industrial policies, which have increasingly gained traction over the past decade, are often aimed at addressing societal challenges, yet concerns have been raised about their potential impact on regional disparities. We use a spatial general equilibrium model to examine the potential tensions between mission-led and their counterpart, place-based policies which are mostly associated with reducing disparities, by focusing on firm support under Horizon 2020 and European Cohesion Policy. We glean that regional and shock distributions that resemble place-based policy investments yield lower regional GDP returns compared to mission-led equivalents. Employment adjustments are higher under a place-based configuration, while regional inequality and disparities increase under a mission-led approach, compared to a decrease under a place-based allocation. This highlights potential contradictions in regional policy-making under mission-led approaches and underlines the need for careful consideration of collateral regional disparities in mission-led policy design.

Joaquim Oliveira Martins (p)

Evina Sofianou

This paper explores the regional dimensions of the productivity gap between the USA and the EU. It uses the OECD regional Database and a taxonomy in five regional types, which allows to capture the exposure to agglomeration. The regional structures and growth regimes in the US and the EU appear rather different. The decomposition of aggregate productivity growth by TL3 region in the US is dominated by regions with large cities, whereas in Europe the regional system is more distributed. The productivity problem in Europe seems to be due both to a lack of agglomeration effects and weak productivity catching-up. This could be labelled as a ‘twin problem’.