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Regional planning and economic science : The recent practice in Greece

• Δεμαθάς, Ζαχαρίας

The paper examines the relationship between regional planning and economic science in the context of application of regional planning in Greece in the period 1974-81. The paper is thus concerned with the practical problems which developed within the context of the policy of ΚΕΡΑ (Centers of Intensive Development Programmes) rather than with any general theoretical problematic concerning regional planning and/or economics. In the first part of the paper the author presents a short description of the regional planning process in Greece. This includes a short analysis of the role played by the principal institutions which participate in this process: the Center for Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) and the Division on Regional Planning both supervised by the Ministry of Coordination as well as the regional development agencies located in the different regions of the country, also supervised by the latter. An analysis of the concept of the region is also included and it is shown that: a. the administration structure of regional planning permits more than one planning authorities to deal with the same region, and b. the concept of «region» is used in an number of different ways. Regional planning studies generally follow three stages: The first stage includes an analysis of the data which is usually limited to an estimation of physical quantities rather than economic magnitudes (e.g. tons of different agricultural products produced in each region rather than value of agricultural production) by region. The second stage includes an evaluation of the data and a statement concerning the relevant limiting factors. The final stage presents concrete proposals for the development of the region(s). The above methodological schedule is applied to an analysis of an actual study, taken here as an example, that of the ΚΕΡΑ of Heraklion, Crete, starting from an examination of the data used in the study and ending with the legal implementation of the study's proposals. The article concludes that (a) the available data do not permit the application of strict interpersonal methods (analytical methods which would lead different researchers to the same results). This is only superseded by the researchers' experience and feel of reality, (b) in spite of declaration to the contrary these studies end in the proposal with a series of physical planning measures and the statement of a series of qualitative targets which are mostly hopes for future developments. The principal quantitative element on which the proposed measures are based is a projection of future population. From the viewpoint of economic science there is a lack of basic studies which would supply the data necessary for the application of economic methods of analysis to regional planning. With the exception of a general description of economic activities which is limited to the data made available by the National Statistical Service of Greece (and which are inadequate, e.g. by EEC standards) the contribution of economists as such is necessarily limited to a very general analysis of economic considerations applying to the region which again does not fulfill the requirement of interpersonal validity of the conclusions. The final conclusion is that regional planning in Greece is in effect physical planning which includes elements of economic and social analysis according to the judgement of each researcher. The studies made so far in this context express the current ideology by attempting to include all the agents whose activity is manifested in the region and to structure hierarchically their interelationships. As such these studies offer to the administration some useful analyses of the conflicts taking place within the region.

• Social and economic geography

• Κοινωνικές επιστήμες

*Το κείμενο που ακολουθεί παρουσιάστηκε στο σεμινάριο «Ζητήματα χωρικής ανάλυσης και προγραμματισμού» που οργάνωσε η έδρα Β Πολεοδομίας της Πολυτεχνικής Σχολής του ΑΠΘ απο 4 - 1 4 Μαίου 1982 Το κείμενο παρουσιάζεται εδω με τις ελάχιστες αλλαγές που επιβάλλονται απο το διαφορετικό πλαίσιο παρουσίασης του