5_Irodalom.indd


69

L I T E R A T U R E

Hungarian Geographical Bulletin 59 (1) (2010) pp. 69–76.

Kocziszky, György: Methodology of Regional Development. University of Miskolc Press 
2009. p. 258. ISBN 978-963-661-898-8

György Kocziszky makes an important contribution to current debates on territo-
rial planning and regional development, providing an empirically rich analysis of the theory 
and methodology of regional development. The book mainly addresses graduate students 
and is divided into four parts. The fi rst one critically reviews economic theories explaining 
regional development; the second presents diff erent types of spaces and space delimitation 
methods; the third provides an analysis of spatial level, time horizons and databases used 
in the spatial planning; and the fourth focuses on methodological questions linked to the 
preparation of regional development plans.

Readers with previous knowledge of the literature on regional development theo-
ries should be familiar with the polemics and questions reviewed in Chapter 1: economic 
growth, economic theories of regional development, and regional development as an in-
strument of economic policy. The second part of the book examines diff erent types of 
space delimitations, according to administrative, identity-based, functional, statistical and 
economic criteria, while the third part presents the spatial levels of development plans, the 
typology and nature of development plans. The sources of data and information used in 
planning are presented as well.

A novel and important contribution of this book is to provide an insight in the 
methodology of preparing regional development plans (Chapter 4). The author divides 
seven steps in the preparation of regional development plans. For each of them are deter-
mined a range of specifi c objectives, tasks and methods. The fi rst of these steps, exploration 
and analysis, is largely presented on the basis of thematic sections: environment, demo-
graphic potential, living conditions, economy, labour market, infrastructure and spatial 
structure. Through a well-planned selection the focus is on the presentation and discussion 
of quantitative methods of analysis, starting with descriptive statistical methods, continuing 
with methods of structural change measuring, examination of stochastic relations, cluster 
forming, and factor analysis. A qualitative method, the SWOT analysis is presented as well. 
A novelty for this kind of books is the next step: the positioning of the analysed territorial 
unit, on the basis of complex indices like the Human Development Index. The concept of 
regional innovation potential is taken into the fi eld of analysis, due to the fact, that innova-
tion is considered to be one of the key factors determining the global position of regions 
and localities. The chapter ends with a short overview on activities like documentation, 
implementation, monitoring.

In summary, this book represents a good and compact addition to the literature on 
regional development both in educational form as well as in practical form. Using personal 
refl ection and a comprehensive source material gives mindful insights to the methodology 
of regional development. The result is a most valuable tool for economists, geographers, 
planners, and policy-makers.

József Benedek