Annals of Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW

Annals of Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW
Forestry and Wood Technology No 76, 2011: 17-21
(Ann. WULS-SGGW, Forestry and Wood Technology 76, 2011)
Possibilities of optimizing of Slovak regional policy in Slovakia
MARIANA SEDLIAČIKOVÁ - ANDREA SUJOVÁ
Department of Business Economics, Technical University in Zvolen, Slovakia
Abstract: The main aim of regional policy is a balanced trend of population in regions which is conditioned of
equal economic and social level in all regions of the state. The regional disparities are a problem in most of
states. Regional disparities bring social, economic, political and ecological problems and thereby a public
dissatisfaction. That is the reason, why it is important for the state government to monitor the development on
the regional and on the state level. The paper deals with analysis of Slovak regions on the level NUTS 3 and with
evaluation of regional disparities. The aim of the presented paper is proposal of possibilities for optimizing of
Slovak regional and economic structure and thereby to reduce the regional disparities. Proposed suggestions are
focused on investments, infrastructure, education and sources for financing the structural changes.
Keywords: regional disparities, regional policy, macroeconomic indicators, regional structure optimizing
INTRODUCTION
Slovak Republic (SR) is characterized by significant and ever-deepening regional
disparities that are given by geographically, partly historically, by native economical
development, degree of urbanization and industrialization and now they can be seen in
economic performance, level of social and educational structure. Existing differences in
particular regions of the Slovak Republic, which arose in the past and were reinforced by
structural changes in the key sectors of the economy, should be systematically solved in order
of regional disparities reduction. Support and strengthen of the less developed or of the
structural changes most affected regions fall between the priorities of regional policy of the
government. The paper deals with analysis of Slovak regions on NUTS 3 level and with
evaluation of regional disparities. The aim of the presented paper is proposal of possibilities
for optimizing of Slovak regional and economic structure and thereby to reduce the regional
disparities. Proposed suggestions are focused on investments, infrastructure, education and
sources for financing the structural changes. Propose of regional structure optimizing of
Slovakia's economy requires an analysis of the economic level of the single regions and
subsequent identification of regional disparities and regional policy tools.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
For the purpose and needs of identification of regional disparities it is necessary to
define the administrative-governing regions, which are represented in Slovakia at the level of
NUTS 3 by the municipalities, it means the higher territorial units. The number of regions at
NUTS 3 is eight: Bratislavský, Trnavský, Trenčiansky, Žilinský, Nitriansky, Banskobystrický,
Košický a Prešovský. Further, it is necessary to classify the factors affecting the regional
development, which include: natural resources, demographic structure of population,
economic activities of regions and other qualitative and quantitative factors of internal and
external environment. We have solved a fundamental issue by using the methods of
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