Regional Polarization under Transition: The Case of Slovakia

This paper analyses trends in regional polarization in Slovakia on the NUTS II and NUTS IV levels for the period 1985–2002 from the neo-classical and polarization approaches to regional development. Development of disparities in regional incomes was examined via an econometric model. The model was based on extensive datasets from Slovak districts for the period 1985–2002. It identified unemployment rates, urbanization rates, shares of population with university degree and share of foreign investors in total enterprises as major factors behind regional divergence. Strong polarization between Bratislava and the rest of the country was the most remarkable feature of regional development after 1989.