REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND REGIONAL POLITICS

It has become clear that the spatial elements within economics, which entered the field with a delay—as opposed to the factor of time, which the economics adopted long ago—are becoming an increasingly important economic category.
 
Expressing aggregate economic values typical of macroeconomics is necessary; however, it is not enough for the management of the national economy. Today, regional politics is a constituent and an important part of EU's development policy, and consequently also Croatia's development policy. The need for the amalgamation of newly-joined countries and economies, the opposition toward processes such as urbanization and the economic weakening of rural areas is obvious.
 
Regional politics is directed toward a specific space and the events within the space with the aim of coordinating and balancing the development of individual spatial economic units–regions. It emphasizes the benefits of two main goals: an increase of the efficiency of the national economy, one the one hand, and an increase of a balanced development of particular areas, which represents an important factor of traditional regional politics, on the other hand. Problems of regional development, politics and planning demand an interdisciplinary, intersectional approach and cooperation between different subjects.
 
Our researchers are focused on the examination of spatial patterns, the disbalance on a local and regional level, researching for opportunities and obstacles to regional development, regional and demographical processes, the analysis of regional economies and specific strategic economic sectors. What has proven to be of particular research challenge within the conditions of the latest economic crisis was the analysis of the effects recession exerted over regional disparities in Croatia and a way to determine which regions and sectors have proven to be more resistant to recession. Researchers are also focused on classifications and indications necessary for the measurement of regional development, establishing an integral approach to regional development and decentralization. Gaining importance as of late is also the subarea of the analysis of public policy evaluation effects and measures regarding regional development.
 
Researchers within this area also carry out analyses and evaluations of policies, programs and strategies of local and regional development. In addition to research, our work is also focused on consultancy for the private and public sector with the aim of gaining a better insight into the economic effects of the existing and proposed programs and policies, as well as on consultancy during the formulation of local politics, programs and strategies. In our research, we cooperate with other research institutions, with relevant participants of local development, ministries, regional self-government units, regional development agencies, international institutions, civil society organizations etc.