Month: December 2021

MEASURING REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT DISPARITIES: SOME METHODOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EVIDENCE FROM ARMENIA AND SERBIA

Tigran MNATSAKANYAN

Ph.D. in Economics, Armenian State University of Economics

tigran.mnatsakanyan.am@gmail.com

Ruben HAYRAPETYAN

Doctor of Sciences in Economics, Professor, Armenian State University of Economics, City Councilor at Yerevan City Council

ruben_hayrapetyan@yahoo.com

Dejan MOLNAR

Ph.D. in Economics, Associate Professor, University of Belgrade – Faculty of Economics

dejan.molnar@ekof.bg.ac.rs

Abstract

There are manifestations of regional development disparities in almost every country, but this phenomenon is especially dangerous in those countries that have only one “center of gravity”. Significantly more developed capital can transform itself from “center of gravity” to a “black hole” by emptying the potential of the regions. To prevent such a destructive scenario, it is firstly necessary to disclose the roots of regional development disparity, and the reasons for its subjective perception. Without these steps, any intervention, policy, or measure taken or implemented by the state can aggravate further disproportion or at least be ineffective. Only after discovering the above-mentioned roots, it will become possible to develop a comprehensive strategy for overcoming regional disproportionate development and derive from it a complex of effective measures. All these goals are intended to be achieved within the framework of the research funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia within the support program for young researchers (project code: 19YR-5B038). This paper focuses mainly on discussion of regional disparity measurement tools and development of a tool appropriate not only for accurate measurements, but also for serving as a motivational tool for authorities. Calculations have been made for Armenia and Serbia, taking into consideration several key similarities of economic, social, and cultural nature, which have significantly influenced the perception of local governance and role of communities, as well as the mindset toward socioeconomic processes in general.

Keywords: regional development, regional disparity, measurement, development indicator, governance

JEL classification: H700, H770, H830, R500, R580

 pp. 327-348

read more

ADDRESSING SPATIAL JUSTICE AT LOWER TERRITORIAL LEVELS. SOME INSIGHTS FROM THE CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES’ PERSPECTIVE

Daniela- Luminița CONSTANTIN

Professor at the Department of Administration and Public Management, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies; Bucharest; Romania

danielaconstantin_2005@yahoo.com

Abstract

The current approaches of territorial inequalities from the perspective of territorial cohesion in relation to the European Social Model bring into discussion the concept of spatial justice, which combines place-based with people-based prosperity and points to adequate social and spatial integration models.  It has been supported by the “Europe 2020” strategy and will get even stronger emphasis in the new programme period, 2021-2027. In this context, the analysis of territorial inequalities at deeper level of spatial disaggregation gets a special significance for the design of the future regional policies, which will incorporate an important spatial justice component. It will entail a growing need for data at NUTS3 and LAU levels as well as for microdata (usually obtained on the occasion of population censuses). At international level there is already a growing interest in doing research at these levels by both institutions that support cohesion policy and individual authors. Starting from these overall considerations this paper proposes an overarching review of selected relevant studies undertaken in Central and Eastern Europe in order to highlight significant aspects of deeper territorial inequalities, as useful hints for the prioritisation of the EU funds allocation to less developed areas and for laying good foundations for the regional policies in these countries. The paper brings about a twofold contribution, namely a discussion of the difficulties that have to be faced for the construction of appropriate databases and proper methodologies as well as the emphasis on those territorial inequalities that are better captured at deeper disaggregation levels.

Keywords: territorial cohesion, spatial justice, overarching review, territorial inequalities, disaggregation level,

JEL classification: R11, R12, R19

 pp. 315-326

read more

DEMOGRAPHIC, GEOGRAPHICAL, AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS AMONG THE GREEK JEWRY, 1919-2019

Nikola YOZGOF-ORBACH

Senior lecturer, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Zefat Academic College, Jerusalem st 11, Zefat, Israel 1320611. Tel: 972-4-692-7866

yozgofo@zefat.ac.il

Abstract

This article discusses demographic, spatial and economic aspects of Greek Jewry in Israel from 1919 to 2019, focusing on its spatial distribution and its demographic processes over the years. This study is based on historicist and interpretive content analysis and on processing and analysis of statistical reports by the Central Bureau of Statistics, as well as analysis of the findings of questionnaires from 2008 and 2019 transmitted among Greek immigrants and their descendants in Israel. The findings show that after the Holocaust, most of the Greek Jews lived in Israel. Many of them settled mainly in urban centers, near the Israeli coastal plain, in the center of the country (Tel Aviv, Bat Yam and Rishon Lezion) or in Haifa. The waves of immigration from Greece to Israel are continuing, but the number of immigrants has diminished greatly over the years. In recent decades, only a few dozen have emigrated to Israel. Demographically Greek Jewry in Israel is characterized by an education rate that is higher than the general average in the country; with a higher level of secularism than the national average; with a low fertility rate compared to other Jewish women in Israel and with a higher  income than the average in Israel. It is also found that among the first generation, only a few hundred are still alive today. It was also revealed that the total number of Greek Jewry today, is 58,238 people and not 10,300 people as shown in the CBS publications of 2018.

Keywords: Jewish Demography, Israel, Greek Jews , Greek immigrants, Jewish Greek Economy

JEL classification:

 pp. 299-313

read more