European Planning Studies

A special issue of European Planning Studies titled 'Agents of change in old-industrial and non-metropolitan regions of Europe' has just been published.
https://lnkd.in/eWPh-GCz

URSA research group contributed an article (open access) co-authored by Vlad Mykhnenko. https://lnkd.in/ee4dfcSS

In the article we asked the question how human agency in peripheral small towns can face structural change. Peripheral cities have recently attracted the attention of scholars, media and politicians due to the concentration of voters of populist parties. Among other things, the authors point out that government policies involving austerity and privatisation of public services may further undermine the development of the periphery. Although the development of industry (competitive economy) is also crucial in these cities, local actors in Czechia have limited possibilities to influence it other than through the development of public services (foundational economy). This is also why the mismatch between the priorities of state regional policy on the one hand and the needs and real possibilities of local actors on the other stands out.

The table shows the different outcomes of institutional entrepreneurship in the form of privatisation of the foundational economy and the establishment of a municipal company providing these services on the other hand.