Central and Eastern European Countries are undergoing a difficult transition process with consequences for spatial development. Europe needs a more bal anced, polycentric system of cities, a new urban-rural relationship, parity of ac cess to infrastructure and knowledge as well as prudent management and devel opment of the natural and cultural heritage. Dealing with these complex challenges and the need for sustainable develop ment politicians requires qualified advice from experts. To this end, the German Ministry for Regional Planning, Construction and Urban Development initiated the Network of Spatial Research Institutes in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE Net) in 1992. Exchange of knowledge and an open dialogue at all levels are pre conditions for the cooperative development of visions and strategies serving spa tial development in Europe. The annual conferences of the network have been a first steps towards closer cooperation. The high interest shown in these confer ences by academics and government representatives and the fact that several re search projects have already crystallised out of the debates they engendered indi cate that the network is meeting a need for exchange and cooperation. Decisions on spatial development do not stop at national borders and the dis cussion on spatial development in any European region has therefore to take the European context into consideration. A special advantage of this publication is that, as well as focusing on spatial development and research in CEE regions, it also discusses Central and Eastern Europe in a European context.

Twenty-five years into transformation, Central and Eastern European regions have undergone substantial socio-economic restructuring, integrating into European and global networks and producing new patterns of regional differentiation and development. Yet post-socialist modernisation has not been without its contradictions, manifesting in increasing social and territorial inequalities. Recent studies also suggest there are apparent limits to post-socialist growth models, accompanying a new set of challenges within an increasingly uncertain world. Aiming to deliver a new synthesis of regional development issues at the crossroads between ‘post-socialism’ and ‘post-transition’, this book identifies the main driving forces of spatial restructuring in Central and Eastern Europe, and charts the different regional development paths which take shape against the backdrop of post-crisis Europe. A comparative approach is used to highlight common development challenges and the underlying patterns of socio-economic differentiation alike. The issues investigated within the Handbook extend to a discussion of the varied economic consequences of transition, the social structures and institutional systems which underpin development processes, and the broadly understood sustainability of Central and Eastern Europe’s current development model. This book will be of interest to academics and policymakers working in the fields of regional studies, economic geography, development studies and policy.

Europe is getting closer. So are European social sciences. However, this is easier done in theory development and central research questions. When it comes to data the mutual understanding is far from perfect, due to a lack of knowledge about the data bases of the respective countries and the EU in general. This is particularly true when it comes to the regional level. This volume will help to improve the insight into the rich stock of European datasets which cover any kind of regional information. Many institutions ranging from statistical offices to more academic research centres and commercial enterprises report their offerings with special emphasis on the regional level (e.g. European Community Household Panel, European Social Survey, Labour Force Survey). Central categories such as NUTS and LAU are explained and discussed. In addition, typical examples of socio-economic cross-border and multi-level studies highlight the power of a regionalized European perspective. Furthermore, information about special tools for such type of analysis is included in the volume.

Providing a new picture of the socio-economic map of central Europe after several years of transformation, and focusing in particular on Poland, this book gives an account of the major problems of regional restructuring. The author identifies the opportunities and problems faced by particular regions by relating the Polish experience to the experience of other central European countries. This in turn provides a general picture of spatial patterns of transformation in this specific part of Europe and will interest those concerned with the transformation of Eastern Europe.

The origins of this volume lie in the history of collaboration on regional development research between the editors and many of the authors over a period of ten years. Through a series of international research projects, conferences and seminars debating the emerging regional development challenges and regional policy responses in Central and Eastern Europe, the idea of a book that would take a comprehensive, systematic look at the issues was born. After a decade of reform, the book was conceived as an opportunity to take stock of the regional problems and disparities associated with the transition process and regional development policy challenges confronting regional, national and European policy-makers.