Development frames in peripheralized areas of Romania

Bibliographic Data

ID7366476
AuthorsAlexandru Brad (0000-0002-5370-4082, corresponding author), Aura Moldovan (0000-0003-4866-5135)
Year2019
Volume7
Issue1
Pages1-9
Publication date2019-12-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueRegional Studies Regional Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2168-1376 • E-ISSN: 2168-1376
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/21681376.2019.1701542
OpenAlexW2996588346
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited7

This paper explores the potentials and limits of using European structural and investment (ESI) funds for rural development in one of the least developed areas of Central and Eastern Europe: Romania’s Sălaj county. The research draws on peripheralization as a key theoretical concept and on frame analysis as a heuristic framework for understanding the effects of policy instruments on development capacities in peripheral places. Desk research and semi-structured interviews reveal how local leaders identify the challenges they face and how they articulate development perspectives in relation to available policies. The key findings are twofold. First, that ESI-funded rural development instruments tend to favour place-blind interventions that do little to address peripheries’ economic weakness and lack of institutional capacity. Second, it can be observed that the implementation of ESI funds has so far only marginally stimulated new styles of policy action that shift local actors’ behaviour and expectations of the development policy system. To address growing intra-regional disparities, the case is made for more reflective policy design for strengthening institutional capacities and better integrating peripheries within their regional economies

Economic geography · Geography · Polish socio-economic development · Regional Development and Policy · Urbanization and City Planning

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