Anali Ekonomskog fakulteta u Subotici (Jan 2018)
New subregionalization for new regional policy of Serbia
Abstract
The emphasized regional polarization of Serbia, which significantly exceeds the socially acceptable frameworks, is especially expressed in the relation North-South (between Belgrade and Novi Sad as two largest and most developed urban agglomerations at one side and the rest of the national territory, at the other). Similarly, there are disparities within the region, and between developed and undeveloped areas/municipalities. So, this indicates that there are multidimensional and layered regional imbalances in Serbia. The initial hypothesis about the presence of intraregional differences in our country is strongly confirmed by the results obtained in the analysis of the certain economic, social and demographic indicators (layered regional disparities). In this sense, another research assumption has been confirmed - the need for the subregional level (NUTS 3 level) redefinition within the policy of the Serbian regional development. The paper suggests that the existing subregionalization model (NUTS 3 level) of Serbia with 25 districts/areas (without Kosovo and Metohija) should be replaced by a new subregionalization of 12 NUTS 3 level areas, which in the following period should be given the role of an active actor of regional development process in Serbia.
