Phase 1 - Executive Report (December 2025)
The research project “Spatial Disparities and Drivers of Local Development: Theory vs. Empirical Evidence vs. Perception of Local Stakeholders” (Contract no.: 86TE/08.01.2025) falls within the broader field of development geography. It aims to develop a conceptual and methodological approach that goes beyound the gap between the World Bank view (strongly focused on connectivity and economic growth) and the United Nations view (strongly focused on human capabilities) regarding the understanding, measurement and analysis of development. The case study is conducted on Romania, assessing development as an opportunity and development as an outcome for four key moments (1911, 1930, 1992 and 2021). For the current period, an additional level of understanding is provided by studying the perception of local public stakeholders on development factors, thus opening up the possibility of exploring the relationship between existing theories (how they explain development), empirical evidence (what historical data tells us about development factors) and the perception of public sector actors on what is important for accelerating local development.
Phase 1 of project implementation resulted in the development of the conceptual and methodological framework of the project, the creation of 100% of the database for the years 1992 and 2021 and about 50-75% for the years 1911 and 1930, the computation of local development indicators for the period 1992-2021 and mapping of the corresponding results, the analysis of territorial disparities and spatial patterns in terms of development geography (with results presented at the international RSA Regional Futures conference, organized in London in November 2025). Phase 1 of the project implementation has also materialized by conducting two case studies and by analyzing local governance mechanisms in the first of these two case studies (with results presented at the Geography of Governance Commission of the International Geographical Union Conference in Rome in September 2025) and by developing the working hypotheses and the following questionnaire to be administered to local actors. Also, stage 1 of project implementation involved participation in 5 trainings, a short-term research internship at a top 500 university, as well as the participation of three project members at the Small Towns Forum organized in Darabani (Botoșani County) in August 2025.