Research Information System
37th International Scientific Conference on Economic and Social Development - Socio Economic Problems of Sustainable Development, Baku, Azerbaijan, 14 - 15 February 2019, pp.229-237
Competitive advantages are distributed unevenly in the country's economic space, resulting in regional inequality. The regional state policy should be aimed at greatest possible smoothing of the regions' socio-economic development levels. Scholars in the field of regional economics analyze effectiveness of various approaches to territorial management, intended to smooth intra- and interregional differences in terms of monetary (financial flows) and non-monetary (quality of life) indicators. Among the theories offering a solution to this problem is the growth poles theory. It is based on the assumption that growth occurs unevenly in economic space: it is concentrated in certain areas and subsequently, thanks to the "spreading" mechanisms, it covers the entire economy. Growth poles theory proponents believe that limited resources should be invested in industries/agglomerations more capable of growth and development than others. Through interaction mechanisms between economic entities, growth impulses are transmitted to other industries/agglomerations. As a result, growth poles 'pull" the rest of the economy up to their own level. The growth poles theory has been developed by a number of scholars, in addition, developed and developing countries have accumulated considerable practical experience in the implementation of the concept. The purpose of this article is to analyze the practical experience of territorial management based on the growth poles theory accumulated since the beginning of the XXI century. In the first part we will focus on the growth poles theory evolution and its critical understanding. In the second part we will describe the practical experience of a number of states in the growth poles theory application to economic systems management. In the third part, we will demonstrate how the growth poles concept can become an integral part of the strategy for spatial development of the territory (in particular, the region) along with other concepts of spatial economics.