Spatial aspects for industrial restructuring

Abstract

The aim of the present paper is to reveal some important aspects of the spatial and settlement structure of Hungary which are likely to influence the program of industrial restructuring.

The first part reviews the process of industrialization during the past decades, its spatial and regional conditions and impacts. Industrialization essentially involved an extensive type of development, í. e. growth via enlarged inputs. It was mainly based on labour resources: cooperation links in production were mininal and transportation costs were high. The number of residents in the centres affected by industrialization was growing by leaps, infrastructural development of settlements could not keep pace with it. The separation of home and work places has resulted in important commuting, therefore great masses of labourers with dual life-styles are severely affected by industiral restructuring.

In the second part of the paper the author outlines the major directions of industrial restructuring. Almost 200 000 workers are affected by the program. Some 13-15000 jobs are planned to be eliminated in metallurgy. Since this industry has a concentrated spatial location, the settlements concerned need to elaborate overall re-employment programs.

Due to closing up unprofitable coal mines, employment problems are also coming up in mining districts.

Another 15-16 000 jobs are considered to be eliminated with the labour force re-employed within the machine industry.

A similar number of workers will be transferred within the chemical industry via re-training on the spot.

Finally, light industry is the most keenly touched by restructuring: 15-25 000 jobs will be eliminated.

The spatial distribution of dynamic, crisis and traditional industries is shown by Figures 2 and 3. (The author emphasizes that the present statistical data base – due to aggregating industries – can only roughly illustrate the sectoral categories presented.)

The third part includes an analysis of the major types of such programs which aim to renew the economic structure of individual regions. The author groups them into two categories. The first group includes central government interventions which are considered as "the new wave - of industrialization by the author and he calls the attention to its hazards and contradictions. Endeavours to employ more and more labour, characteristic of the 1960s and 1970s, are also discernible in these programs. But they can only be successful on the short run. The second group includes those plans which base their attempts to modernize the economy on local and regional resources. The author presents some of their fields: industries of the agribusiness, economic links facilitated by geographical location, cooperation links based on complex sectoral structure.

The paper dwells on innovation parks, it presents their major types. The diffusion of new undertakings, the changing industrial structure and their joint impact on restructuring are analysed among local and regional resources. Finally, it calls the attention to the fact that local society and environment protection will have an ever growing importance in revealing and activating local and regional resources in the future.