Research project S3/64/001 (Research action S3)
The project of the Federal Planning Bureau is aimed at studying the spatial dynamics of economic activities and families within Belgium’s urban regions. Additionally, the project will analyse the effects of these two dynamics from the point of view of the development of livable cities. The aim is to produce a report on the economic significance of cities in Belgium, to highlight factors that determine the spatial organisation of economic activities and families in an urban environment, and to provide a number of economic policy instruments capable of influencing the spatial configuration of cities.
More specifically, the project will concentrate on three important movements: strengthening of the polarisation between urban regions and the their hinterland; the spread of urban conurbations, attributable primarily to the spatial dynamics of families; and the locating of business areas on the periphery of urban regions. During a second phase, the manner in which the spatial location of economic activities has evolved will be compared with the spatial evolution of the localisation of families in order ultimately to determine the effects of this three-pronged movement on the development of urban quality of life in Belgian cities.
The project’s specific assignments are as follows:
A. Descriptive analysis: spatial dynamics of economic activities and of families over recent years
A.1. Delineation of the geographical framework for the analysis
A.2. Spatial dynamics of economic activities
- Dynamics of all the sectors together: descriptive analysis of the processes behind the strengthening of polarisation at the macro-spatial level and peripherisation at the meso-spatial level.
- Sectoral dynamics: descriptive analysis of the economic specialisation of cities in Belgium.
A.3. Spatial dynamics of families
- Dynamics of all families together: descriptive analysis of the process behind spatial swarming, on the basis of local data.
- Dynamics according to family type: descriptive analysis of the spatial behaviour of families according to their characteristics.
B. Analysis of the factors determining the spatial dynamics of economic activities and families over recent years
B.1. Analysis of the factors determining the spatial dynamics of economic activities
- Choice of possible factors determining spatial concentrations of economic activities.
- Econometric analysis: clarification of the "employment growth per local district" variable.
Two possible methodologies:
1. Conventional methodology based on the Crossroads Bank for Social Security data from 1997 to 2000 (individual data from each institute).
2. Spatial methodology based on data from the DBRIS statistical business register between 1985 and 2000. The clarification variable then becomes "employment growth / reduction per local district".
B.2. Analysis of factors determining the spatial dynamics of families.
- Choice of possible determining factors: explanations for family migrations must be sought in the discrepancies between urban centres and peri-urban surrounding areas in respect of one or two variables. This difference gives rise to the development of a sphere of influence.
- Econometric analysis: "growth of certain family categories per local district" will be the variable requiring explanation.
C. Temporal perspectives and challenges for ‘liveable’ development providing a decent quality of life
C.1. Temporal perspectives
C.2. Challenges for ‘liveable’ urban development
Two challenges for ‘liveable’ urban development will be relevant to the scope of this study: the problem of the increase in transport demand; and the issue of territorial equity.
D. Organisation of a colloquium
Ruimtelijke economie van de Belgische steden: determinanten, inzet en vooruitzichten : eindverslag
Brussel : Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid, 2005 (SP1546)
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Ruimtelijke economie van de Belgische steden: determinanten, inzet en vooruitzichten : samenvatting
Brussel : Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid, 2005 (SP1547)
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Economie spatiale des villes en Belgique: déterminants, enjeux et perspectives : résumé
Bruxelles : Politique scientifique fédérale, 2005 (SP1548)
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Spatial economy of Belgian cities: determinants, issues and outlooks : summary
Brussels : Belgian Science Policy, 2005 (SP1549)
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