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Abstract
Polycentric development is a widely used term both in academic research and in the normative agenda. However, its theoretical foundations and economic implications are still unclear and the concept of polycentricity still does not have a shared definition or a shared measurement method. The aim of this study is two-fold. First, it defines and measures polycentricity at a NUTS-2 regional level, by comparing functional and morphological methods. Second, in the light of the role assigned to polycentric development in terms of policy, the study investigates the relationships between the degree of regional polycentricity and the key economic variables of performance, namely, competitiveness, social cohesion and environmental sustainability. Our main finding was that functional and morphological methods lead to similar results. In addition, we find a correlation between polycentricity and a more unequal income distribution and a higher level of productivity, especially when polycentricity was measured in functional terms. No stable correlations were found between polycentricity and measures of environmental sustainability, such as land consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to acknowledge Antonio G. Calafati, Tommaso Luzzati and two anonymous referees for the useful suggestions and Henri L.F. de Groot for his precious support.
Notes
The ESDP is the first and the most important European guiding document on spatial planning. It established three main guiding principles for spatial development, namely, (i) polycentric development and stronger urban–rural partnerships, (ii) parity of access to infrastructure and knowledge and (iii) intelligent management of the natural and cultural heritage.
Glaeser and Kahn (Citation2004), for instance, study the emergence of sub-centres in US urban areas, driven by income and private transportation use.
Other more complex approaches look at density peaks, thus focusing on those territorial units that show higher densities than areas in the surrounding territory. See, among others, Craig and Ng (Citation2001). For a recent survey on this topic, see Roca Cladera et al. (Citation2009).
The threshold applied to discriminate between the high or low value of polycentricity is given by the mean values of rank-size estimates and OP results.
The Barca Report emphasizes the role of medium- and small-sized centres as drivers for development. In this light, polycentric regions characterized by high “network effects” are assumed to be the ideal ground for economies of scale and growth.
We considered Class 1.1 of the CORINE Land cover, “Urban fabric”: Areas mainly occupied by dwellings and buildings used by administrative/public utilities or collectivities, including their connected areas (associated lands, approach road network, parking lots). See Bossard et al. (Citation2000) for the technical details.
CORINE Land Cover, class 1.1.2 (Bossard et al., Citation2000).
Tonnes of CO2 equivalent per capita (CO2, Nox, methane; other sources and removals included), year 2000. Source: ISPRA SINANET (http://www.sinanet.apat.it/it/emissioni).