THE FUNCTIONAL, SECTORAL AND REGIONAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE ECONOMY OF THE MISKOLC METROPOLITAN AREA REVISITED

Authors

  • Andrea Kristóf

Abstract

Out of the economic development and shifts in the Miskolc agglomeration the present study introduces some characteristics of the functional, sectoral and regional differentiation of economic transformation. The functional, sectoral and geographical distribution of business corporations in the 35 settlements of the Miskolc agglomeration in 2016 may help to interpret and assess economic processes adapted to local characteristics in the past 25 years. During the research, only those operating businesses were taken into account that had net sales of 20 million HUF or more in 2015. As a result of empirical studies of 640 operating companies in 35 municipalities, the regional inequalities and sectoral concentration of the economy can be revealed. The intensity of the spatial structure of the economy is uneven within the Miskolc agglomeration and spatial specialization can also be observed in the economic hinterland of Miskolc. The economic development induced significant changes in the spatial structure of three small towns (Felsőzsolca, Nyékládháza, Alsózsolca). Services (e.g. personal, distributive, services for businesses) as well as commerce, logistics and leisure functions concentrated in these towns strengthened their positions in the spatial structure. Besides, the technological and industrial parks of these small towns play an increasing role. However, the small towns of the agglomeration cannot or hardly be regarded as economic competitors of Miskolc, i.e. the region has not become polycentric, and the inhabitants of these small towns are not totally independent of Miskolc. In the case of Sajóbábony (due to its special situation) and Szikszó (despite its economic recovery) the functional, sectoral and regional transformation is not clear yet. Out of the villages, only four (Kistokaj, Mályi, Szirmabesenyő, Hernádnémeti) could significantly improve their economic position, keeping pace with the dynamically transforming three small towns of the agglomeration. Towards the outer edge of the agglomeration the dynamism and the effect of economic space structure-formation of businesses is less and less detectable. Here, settlement differentiation is also influenced by transport accessibility, the innovation capabilities of local communities and other geographical factors.

Author Biography

Andrea Kristóf

Out of the economic development and shifts in the Miskolc agglomeration the present study introduces some characteristics of the functional, sectoral and regional differentiation of economic transformation. The functional, sectoral and geographical distribution of business corporations in the 35 settlements of the Miskolc agglomeration in 2016 may help to interpret and assess economic processes adapted to local characteristics in the past 25 years. During the research, only those operating businesses were taken into account that had net sales of 20 million HUF or more in 2015. As a result of empirical studies of 640 operating companies in 35 municipalities, the regional inequalities and sectoral concentration of the economy can be revealed. The intensity of the spatial structure of the economy is uneven within the Miskolc agglomeration and spatial specialization can also be observed in the economic hinterland of Miskolc. The economic development induced significant changes in the spatial structure of three small towns (Felsőzsolca, Nyékládháza, Alsózsolca). Services (e.g. personal, distributive, services for businesses) as well as commerce, logistics and leisure functions concentrated in these towns strengthened their positions in the spatial structure. Besides, the technological and industrial parks of these small towns play an increasing role. However, the small towns of the agglomeration cannot or hardly be regarded as economic competitors of Miskolc, i.e. the region has not become polycentric, and the inhabitants of these small towns are not totally independent of Miskolc. In the case of Sajóbábony (due to its special situation) and Szikszó (despite its economic recovery) the functional, sectoral and regional transformation is not clear yet. Out of the villages, only four (Kistokaj, Mályi, Szirmabesenyő, Hernádnémeti) could significantly improve their economic position, keeping pace with the dynamically transforming three small towns of the agglomeration. Towards the outer edge of the agglomeration the dynamism and the effect of economic space structure-formation of businesses is less and less detectable. Here, settlement differentiation is also influenced by transport accessibility, the innovation capabilities of local communities and other geographical factors.

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Published

2022-01-17

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2017)

Section

Cikkek