TERRITORIAL DIFFERENCES OF RURAL CITIES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IN HUNGARY

• Published in: Romanian review of regional studies 2015-07, Vol.11 (2), p.69
• Main Authors: Péli, László, Neszmélyi, György Iván
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Economic change; Economics; Highways; Infrastructure
• ISSN: 1841-1576; 2344-3707

Regional disparities can be explored from many aspects, however, most researchers agree in that due to political and economic changes, the former trend of decreasing regional disparities turned back and started to increase rapidly. In the early 2000s, a new structure with more competitive, more innovative areas and also with lagging settlements and areas seem to emerge. As result of the differentiation processes of the past two decades, in comparison with the EU member states, Hungary has the largest gap in GDP per capita among its regions. A little more than 50% of the Hungarian micro-regions have disadvantaged conditions for 30% of the population. Even now, in many studies and disputes, the under- and over-valuation of the role of highways are combined with each other. In our opinion, highways have strong, if not the strongest economic stimulus effect and settlements bordering highways formulate a single, coherent cluster. In general, these areas belong to the more developed areas of the country, which have better employment, income and infrastructure conditions. Currently, Hungary has strongly central and radial transport network. This structure hinders the formation and strengthening of large rural cities, as the capital city is the political and economic centre of the country, and its central location makes it easily accessible from the major part of the country. This state however does not help strengthening rural growth centres.