Development and Disparities at Local and Regional Level in Romania

Abstract

Romania's regional policy is oriented today towards the eight regions of development. That is why, in order to understand the nature and dynamics of the regional disparities, poverty and social exclusion we shall analyze the main changes occurred in the human development process in Romania, in the last sixteen years. In order to achieve an accurate evaluation, we shall use indicators of regional economic development such as: unemployment indicator, occupation indicator, average number of employees, GDP, business figure of some companies from areas such as industry, construction, commerce and services. In order to develop a best suitable framework for analysis and measurements of the changes occurred at local and regional level, amongst the inclusion of classical indicators such as: the GDP and gross medium income we shall include four other fundamental dimensions: the occupational matrix of the active population; the professional and occupational mobility of the population in the last sixteen years; the social exclusion phenomenon (marginalization) and the integrating phenomenon (inclusion) and participation of the labour force in the new market economy. In order for the analysis of the disparities in Romania to be more relevant we shall comprise data, in comparison at historical regional level, not taking into account the new regions of development. Also our analysis on human development must be placed in the context of our days, by highlighting the actual tendencies and social structure at national level. In order to consolidate the ties between human development at local and regional level with other conditions (e. q. economic growth, macro-economic policies, distribution of financial resources) we mustn't promote only the accumulation of human capital (investment in education, health system) but also we must bear in mind the increase of opportunities at regional and local level which people might take on by participating at the economic, social or political life. Thus national policies are the corner stone for realizing the needs for regional and local human development, and if this are well targeted they can consolidate the benefits generated by the level of development. In conclusion, the new socio-economic structure of Romania that has appeared in the last sixteen years of transition may be explained through the process of social mobility due to the economic, social and political reforms made after 1989.