POLYCENTRIC DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT USING THE HIERARCHY METHOD

Abstract

The concept „monocentric” describes inhabited agglomeration with one dominant centre. Latvia is a monocentric settlement with a strong main centre – Riga, which has a great specific weight in total economic system. At the same time Latvia has a wide, comparatively evenly distributed net of cities, the potential of which has not been properly used. The development of regions is unbalanced; the advantages of administrative territories are not used. Existent model of territorial development for Latvian regions cannot ensure sufficient financial resources, investment formation and dynamic pace of economic development. For the purpose of the European Union policy the settlement is polycentric, if there are several centres of equivalent value or centres, which supplement each other. Programs of polycentric development are included in program documents of the European Union; since joining the European Union these documents are mandatory also for Latvia. The aim of the research is to identify alternatives of territorial development in Latvian regions. Within the framework of the research the expert questionnaire is performed, the results of which are being evaluated with the methodology of the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Achieved results can be used when making decision which of the territorial development alternatives needs to be developed first in order to achieve the set aim – sustainable development.

Keywords

• Planning Models, planning Policy, Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity, Regional Development Planning and Policy.

References

1. Maier, K., Mourato, J. and J. Ryser (2006) How can polycentricity of territorial development improve functional integration?Discussion paper for Topic 2, Conference Proceeding, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Tenth UNECE Conference for Urban and Regional Research, Bratislava.
2. Satty, T.L. (1980), “The Analytic Hierarchy Process”, New York: Mc Graw-Hill International.