Regional inequalities: knowledge frontiers and debates

Abstract

Regions are coherent spatial units (i.e., sub-national level) that share common (natural or artificial) features and consist of actors that share common goals. The regional problem exists when there are marked inequalities in the standard of living enjoyed by people in different regions. Regional science, the interdisciplinary scientific locus that is concerned with regional phenomena, aims, precisely, at dealing with the regional problem, and provides insight not only into science per se but also into policy making. The paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature on regional inequalities aiming at identifying current knowledge frontiers and debates. The study of regional inequalities is, apparently, at the heart of regional science.