European Regional Science Association
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European Regional Science Association
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The abstract for paper number 460:
Ivo Simunovic, Faculty of Economics Split, Split, Croatia
Economic Importance of Medium Sized Towns within a Region
The paper deals with the economic importance of the medium-sized towns within a region. Therefore, in the first part of the paper the author considers some theoretical issues regarding the importance and role of those towns in their regional surroundings. Indeed, qiute a lot attention has been paid to the role of large towns and cities, while the role of the middle-sized towns has been neglected in the literature so far. The author, on the contrary, points out (based on the several filed researches) the special role of the later that actually enable the realization of the large towns' functions in the region.
Next, the relationships between the economic power of a town on one hand, and the economic power of the central town are analysed. They are frequently neglected in the creation of the central settlements networks. Within such a context, some towns are decided to be in charge of certain functions, which they actually cannot support.
The second important concern of the paper is the identification of the particular moment in the development of a town when it acquires economic maturity necessary to carry out certain functions in a region.
The third part of the paper is dedicated to the determination of the size differing medium-sized and large town. Although there are various theoretical standpoints regarding this matter, it is undoubted that it can be discussed only within the framework of spatial territorial urban system.
In short, the author focuses on the role of medium-sized towns within the urban system. The field researches he conducted proved the high dependence of any urban system on the role of these towns. The functions they carry out are frequently rather complex, especially in the cases of more significant distance from the large city. Thus, the necessity of realization of such functions uses to result in the more intensive growth of these towns, compared to other towns of the similar size.
Regional development plays an important and complex role in maintaining balanced growth within a region. The researches showed an outstanding importance of the medium-sized towns in this particular development domain.
The author discussed these and other considerations based on the results of the field studies on the importance and role of medium-sized towns in the Republic of Croatia.
Unfortunately full paper has not been submitted.