Properties of traditional industrial regions’ economic space: Theoretical foundations

Abstract

Economic growth in traditional industrial regions occurs predominantly due to industrial municipalities located within its economic space. The studies of regional economic space mainly concentrate on the issues of the balanced spatial development, aspects of spatial polarisation and fragmentation. The paper aims to substantiate the properties of economic space of a traditional industrial region from the perspective of regional identity. Methodologically, the research relies on fundamental tenets of spatial economics, typology of regions, and the concept of regional identity. The authors use dialectical and structural logical methods, method of typology, instrumental analysis. Based on the typological attributes of the traditional industrial region, the authors identify and provide characteristics of the properties of its economic space: evolutionary nature; weak diversification of industry; stability of internal content; industrialism. The paper proves that in line with the concept of regional identity these properties can serve as identifiers of traditional industrial regions and their economic space. The research findings form a theoretical basis for further research of the processes of development of traditional industrial regions’ economic space.

Keywords

• economic space
• regional typology
• traditional industrial region
• regional identity
• regional identifier