Landscape patterns changes and relation to water infiltration of Krueng Peusangan Watershed in Aceh

Watershed has played an important source of ecosystem services (ES). The Krueng Peusangan watershed (KPW) is considered to be the “lungs” and ecological border in the central region of Aceh, Indonesia. This study aims to monitor landscape patterns in the watershed area of 2009-2019 and to predict changes in 2039 and their relationship with infiltration. The selection of this research area is due to the notion that KPW is one of the numerously deforested watersheds in the country. Temporal spatial monitoring of landscape (land use/cover, LUC) patterns are required to inform policy and support future spatial management planning towards sustainability. Landscape patterns changes in KPW, including the extent of loss and addition of forest over the last few years, have not been quantified. In constructing the regional development policies, information regarding the effects of landscape changes and climatic patterns on ecosystem services is essential. Therefore, the knowledge development of this relationship is encouraged. The comparison value between potential and actual infiltration could identify the watershed category. The upstream area of KPW is classified as a significantly critical watershed due to LUC changes. Therefore, it is deemed necessary to improve the absorption zone for the continuation of groundwater protection.

Metagovernance challenges in regional development: A comparison of Sweden, Denmark and Finland

Regional councils collaborate with municipalities, government agencies, universities, non-governmental organisations, and businesses when forming regional development policies in Nordic countries. Political representatives use metagovernance to steer this collaborative process, but previous research shows that politicians often struggle with metagovernance. There are few empirical studies on metagovernance and little is known about how institutional context affects it. This article comparatively explores the political metagovernance of regional development in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, studying what metagovernance challenges politicians encounter and how institutional contexts shape their perceptions. The study uses survey data from 1006 regional council representatives, which are analysed using a mixed- methods approach. Findings reveal common metagovernance challenges in regional development, but also show the importance of institutional context. The regional councils’ institutional capacity has a clear impact: Danish and Finnish representatives request more formal powers and resources to develop their metagovernance role, while this is less of an issue among Swedish representatives.

Population Forecast with Focus on Emigration: Scenarios for the Case of Peripheral Region

Sustainable decision-making and policies for regional development need clear understanding of future trends in population change. Emigration as one of the core factors of population change causes the greatest uncertainty in the demographic forecasts. Population change due to emigration is bright especially in peripheral regions what strengthens their unfavourable socio-economic conditions. Within the present study, the authors forecast population change due to emigration in peripheral region with high emigration rates. The authors offer three scenarios – current, half of current, and zero emigration, which demonstrate how differentiated population change due to emigration may be in case of different suppositions. Such approach focuses on the issue at local level. For numerical expression of population change, the authors apply simulation model based on system dynamics methods. Forecast results of future population change due to emigration in each scenario may be as a basis for timely inclusion of issues in regional development policies.

Is It Possible to Tackle Youth Needs with Agricultural and Rural Development Policies?

Rural youth are influenced by a wide range of uncertainties regarding their personal and professional development. Rural youth and in particular rural NEETs (Not in Employment, Education or Training) are especially vulnerable and face higher risks of labour market, social and economic exclusion. This paper aims to analyse the determinants of the dynamics of rural NEETs in three post-transitional countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia) compared to the EU-28 average and to Ireland as an example of an established EU member state with over 50% of its population living in rural areas that can act as a benchmark for effective policy implementation to address challenges of marginalized youth, during the 2009–2019 period. The dynamics of rural NEET status and the efficiency/adaptability of regional development policies are revealed through analysis of macro and socioeconomic factors as well as specific employment-related indicators disaggregated by gender and degree of urbanisation. The comparative analysis indicates deficiencies in regional development policies among post-transitional countries and the potential to adapt modern European practices and policies for improving the rural NEETs’ position.

Regional Policy and Greenfield Investments in German Districts

Using data on greenfield investment in German districts from 2003 to 2010, we examine how regional development policies affect the decision of multinational corporations to locate facilities in Germany. We are interested in whether regional development policies accumulate to increase the attractiveness of a region and whether some policies are necessary to attract foreign investors. Applying count data models and geographic weighted regression, the results indicate that, on average, regional development policies increase the attractiveness of German districts for multinational firms. We find that place-based policies have the strongest effect on investments in the East German lagging regions. However, policies predominantly attract standardised types of investments that require considerable capital investments but not specialised location advantages.

Globaali talouskriisi ja Suomen alueellinen resilienssi

The aim of this article is to make a general overview to regional economic resilience in the sub-regions of Finland after the 2009 recession. Resilience is studied from perspectives of resistance, recovery, renewal and reorientation of employment and gross domestic product. In addition, the relationship of different kinds of structural background factors to regional resilience is outlined. The regional output is measured in relation to region’s own pre-recession output. The key findings suggest that (1) productivity has recovered better in more peripheral regions of Finland but employment recovery has been better in growth regions. (2) The regional characteristics connected to resilience of employment and GDP seem to be quite opposite. (3) Resilience is not a one feature, instead it takes many different forms. Therefore, in regional development policies it is important to specify which types of resilience, e.g. employment or production resilience, are being pursued.