Helmut Karl Libros

Implemented by a joint initiative of ARL and DATAR, an international group of experts reflected on regional development policies. Economic development often leads to varying regional performances in income, employment, and growth. Studies in modern regional economics reveal that economic convergence, particularly after EU enlargement with the inclusion of lower-performing Member States, requires time. To enhance efficiency and reduce regional disparities, several frameworks for regional development policy have been proposed, including the growth pole concept, spatial economic corridors, and spatial economic networks. The latter emphasizes regional cooperation and introduces a new spatial policy framework. This approach shifts focus from individual problem regions to trans-national networks and European macro-regions. The new paradigm encourages viewing regions as part of spatial economic networks and the EU as a player in the global competitive innovation system. Regional policies in new Member States and Candidate Countries should prioritize infrastructure, human and social capital, and network formation to facilitate innovation transfer. They must also address areas affected by industrial conversion and promote interregional, international, and trans-border cooperation. Additionally, these policies should support the modernization of institutional systems in Central and Eastern Europe, enhance local administrative competenci

Zur demographischen Entwicklung in Nordrhein-Westfalen : eine Analyse auf Ebene der Kreise und kreisfreien Städte / Michael Kersting/Nicola Werbeck. [Hrsg.: RUFIS, Ruhr-Forschungsinstitut für Innovations- und Strukturpolitik e. V.]

Abstract: Die Hochwasserkatastrophe an Elbe und Mulde im Herbst 2002 hat es schlagartig ins allgemeine Bewusstsein gebracht: Selbst in unserer hoch entwickelten, modernen Dienstleistungsgesellschaft sind katastrophenaffine Risiken vorhanden, die ganz erhebliche räumliche Dimensionen besitzen und für die vielfach keine hinreichende Vorsorge getroffen worden ist. Auch der Beitrag der Raumplanung zur Vorsorge ist durchaus verbesserungsfähig. Das gilt für Praxis und Wissenschaft gleichermaßen, denn die Schnittmenge zwischen der vorwiegend technisch orientierten fachlichen Seite und der querschnittsorientierten überfachlichen Seite der Raumplanung ist in den Raumwissenschaften bislang eher vernachlässigt worden. Mit der Tagung wurde das komplexe Feld der wechselseitigen Überschneidungen von Katastrophenvorsorge und Raumplanung in seinen wesentlichen Facetten beleuchtet. Dabei waren nahezu alle fachlich beteiligten Disziplinen vertreten und es wurden vielfältige Querbezüge zu den raumplanerischen

Coordination of Spatial Policy The cross-sector and spatial coordination of sectoral policies has long been the subject of disciplinary and interdisciplinary discussion. Such discussion has its roots in the recognition that autonomous sectoral policies and the autonomous actions of political agents alone do not do justice to interdependencies between the sectors. Renewed discussion has been rendered necessary by recent research developments, social change and an increase in incidences where coordination between the various political and bureaucratic levels of the European and German system has been seen to fail. The individual papers are systematically organised to consider three variants of coordination problems, whereby a fundamental distinction is made between vertical and horizontal coordination. It can be seen that despite the distinctiveness of the local individual case studies, it is possible to observe commonalities related to the successful tackling of policy interdependencies. Against this background, cross-sectoral recommendations are formulated. On the one hand, these are concerned with reducing the need for coordination to a minimum by the skilful allocation of tasks within the federal system. On the other hand, they indicate ways in which the remaining coordination still necessary between spatially impacting policies can be undertaken so that greater efficiency is achieved than through an uncoordinated approach.