Annals of the University of Oradea: Economic Science (Jul 2011)
DYNAMICS ECONOMIC DISPARITIES IN NORTH-WEST REGION OF ROMANIA
Abstract
Even though over the years has enjoyed wide media coverage, with highlighted aspects, discrepancies and inequalities of economic potential between different regions of the world, or even parts of the same countries always remained topical. Difficulties arising from these differences were always felt, extremely painful by humans. Analyzing distinctly, participation of each county to the GDP of the Northwest Region and the composition of all indicators, we can identify significant discrepancies between counties, regions and municipalities. This is one of the reasons that led us trying to identify the causes that generated the current situation. From the perspective of the contribution of each county in the Northwest Region to Region's domestic product composition, the first place is taken by Cluj county 32.3%, followed by Bihor with 24.3%, Maramures, with 14.9% Satu-Mare, 12.1%, Bistrita-Nasaud, 9.1% and 7.2% Salaj. Consulting of the Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013 indicates that the poorest areas in the Northwest Region are in Maramures and Bistrita-Nasaud. An important part of the active population of North-West Region was employed in public enterprises and an increase of unemployment in the counties of Salaj, Satu Mare and Maramures became predictable, imminent amid restructuring of public enterprises with losses. Studies of employed population by sectors of the economy, shows a high rate of population employed in services in the counties of Cluj and Bihor and high employment in agriculture on other four counties. In a modern market economy, services are most concentrated labors, and how the workforce is distributed in the Northwest region also shows an imbalance. How Northwest Region is participating in international economic cycle has major effects on the population's living standards. Relevant for the inter-district disparities analysis is the human and agents behavior analysis and the savings and loan relationships. How people behave in these ratios in each county tells us much about their economic profile. Attenuation of long distance gaps in the Northwest region remains a very complex problem, attempts to decrease it, is bringing into question, not infrequently contradictory strategies. Supporting the few remaining state-owned enterprises in the region could lead to a revival of activity, attracting attention of foreign investors can thus lead to recovery of much of the labor resources of the Region. Expansion and modernization of transport and distribution networks would provide a further chance to faster development of the North-West by exploiting the growing regional economic resources available, enhancing economic relations both intra and extra regional. But we can not fail to mention the part state should play in orchestrating these measures. Despite the independence of regions, they are subordinated to the central administration, and strategic investment policy depends to an overwhelming extent of it. Only by linking effective measures at national, regional and local level will alleviate the sustainable economic gaps.
