Disparity, soudržnost a konkurenceschopnost regionů NUTS 2 zemí Visegrádské čtyřky

Abstract

The subject of the doctoral dissertation thesis is submitted by the issue of disparities, cohesion and competitiveness, which is empirically analysed and evaluated at the level of 35 NUTS 2 regions of the Visegrad Four. The main aim of the doctoral dissertation thesis is to verify the coherence of the concept of cohesion and competitiveness as a pair of complementary EU objectives through empirical analysis and evaluation of the level of disparities, cohesion and competitiveness of NUTS 2 regions of the Visegrad Four countries in the reference period 2000–2011. The fulfilment of doctoral dissertation thesis objective is closely related with validation of mutual relationship between cohesion and competitiveness, which is determined by the default hypothesis of doctoral dissertation thesis and followed by proxy composite indicators VAID and RCI 2010. Conclusions of doctoral dissertation thesis, based on empirical results of the examination of disparities and cohesion pointed out that in NUTS 2 regions of the Visegrad Four we have occurred process of reducing disparities and strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion between NUTS 2 regions of the Visegrad Four in the period 2000–2011. In the area of regional competitiveness a convergence of economic performance has been observed, both among Visegrad Four regions and with the average of EU-27. Although most of NUTS 2 regions of the Visegrad Four recorded positive trend of declining levels of disparities in the area of economic, social and territorial cohesion, there are still differences between regions with capital cities and other NUTS 2 regions of Visegrad Four, which reach relatively higher level of disparities (lower level of cohesion) and relatively lower level of competitiveness. Overall, at the sample of 35 NUTS 2 regions of Visegrad Four, the main objective of doctoral dissertation thesis has been fulfilled. Dissertation thesis confirms the positive dependence between theoretical concepts of cohesion (derived from the level of regional disparities) and competitiveness, as a pair of complementary objectives of the European Union.