Divergence versus Convergence in Regional Development

Abstract

The present study is a comparative analysis of various theoretical approaches to the question of divergence versus convergence in regional development. The article examines a number of studies presented in this field. The first section deals with the economic aspect of this subject, while the second discusses population dispersal and polarization in the context of regional development. The third section analyzes the empirical findings on developed and developing countries, as well as Eastern European (formerly Communist bloc) countries. An integrative approach to this field is also proposed.