TEPS Research Project

Drivers of local development across space and time. Insights from Romania (1911-2021)

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Authors: Mihail Eva, Alexandra Cehan, Ionel Muntele
Presenter: Mihail Eva

Abstract
This paper investigates local development in Romania across time using both a spatial and a capability-based approach. It conceptualizes local development as both an opportunity (measured as spatial accessibility to services of general interest and to global markets) and as an outcome (proxied by the local human development index). The analysis employs novel historical data at the local level for 1911 and 1930 along with data from recent censuses (1992 and 2021), and delivers a global picture of the interplay between local development opportunities and local development outcomes across distinct historical periods and relatively different geographical regions.

Development Opportunities vs Development Outcomes. Towards a Typology of Peripheral Local Communities

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Authors: Mihail Eva, Alexandra Cehan, Ionel Muntele
Presenter: Mihail Eva

Abstract
This presentation delivers a set of preliminary results from a research project aiming at assessing local development from a novel perspective, that integrates both the World Bank view highly focused on connectivity and growth, and the United Nations’ view inspired by Sen’s capability theory. The research first builds a new multi-dimensional and multi-scalar methodological approach and then employs it for the assessment and mapping of local development for 3181 communities from Romania. Secondly, it statistically explores the interplay between territorial opportunities for development and development outcomes, and then delivers a typology of peripheral local communities that compares development outcomes to development opportunities. Results highlight not only the degree of association between contextual drivers of local development and development outcomes, but also unveil those communities where other factors (including agency and local governance networks) managed to overcome territorial constraints and historical legacy or, on the contrary, failed to take advantage of their location in opportunity-rich territories.

Change vs. reproductive agency in local path development of post-socialist small towns

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Authors: Ema Corodescu-Roșca, Alexandra Cehan, Mihail Eva
Presenter: Ema Corodescu-Roșca

Abstract
Globalization and metropolization confronted small towns to shrinking population, economic decline and shortage of opportunities, therefore challenging the emergence of new development paths. The present paper focuses on multi-stakeholder governance mechanisms involved in the development paths of two post-socialist small towns in Romania. We follow a qualitative case study methodology, based on the triangulation of sources (official documents, newspaper articles, micro-data, interviews with stakeholders, etc.), in order to trace each local development path. The agency in the two cases is compared based on the “trinity of change agency” framework of Grillitsch & Sotarauta (2020), including the distinction between change and reproductive agency introduced by Baekkelund (2021). We hypothesize that small towns which benefit from a higher accessibility or other structural advantages are more prone to display change agency, but the mix of change and reproductive agency remain highly dependent upon the unique constellation of local stakeholders’ strategies and actions.

Results presented at the RSA Regional Futures Conference

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Preliminary results concerning the geography of local development over the last three decades in Romania have bben presented at the 2025 RSA Regional Futures conference

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Preliminary results presented at IGU Conference

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Preliminary results concerning the first case study presented at IGU Conference.

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Case studies have been decided

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Four small Romanian cities have been selected as in-depth case studies.

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people

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Contract has been signed

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The contract with The Romanian Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI) has been signed.

Project title:
Advancing knowledge on spatial inequality and local development determinants: Theory vs Empirical evidence vs Public Stakeholders’ perception.

Contract number:
86TE/08/01/2025 (PN-IV-P2-2.1-TE-2023-2070)

Budget
99 980 EUR

Duration of the project
24 months

Period of implementation
January 2025 - December 2026

Host institution
Department of Geography
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași

Contact

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Tour

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000