R11 - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and ChangesReturn

The regional integration process allows worldwide formation of many regional clusters with an economic focus at most. Some partnerships of such units can create clubs of regions with a higher degree of integration process, compared to the rest, so their extent of regional integration is very high-powered. The present analysis shows that since the formation of such a unit - OECS subintegration cluster, the GDP of the involved countries has definitely developed better than that of the higher integration unit - the CARICOM integration cluster, and the rest of the area as well. Beyond, some higher intensity of recognised effect in the long-term period has been found. Accordingly to the discovered findings, we can suggest that the emergence of similar phenomena of "integration within integration" brings clear evidence of positive development to its participants in terms of economic performance. Similar initiatives of the European Union's Cohesion Policy - grouping of territorial cooperation support - appear to be partially correct in this view. However, the main policy's objectives require other approaches.

The theoretical background of this paper presents localization theories. Classic location theory, models based on imperfect competition, theories aiming at the location of services, the polarization theory as well as the location theories based on institutionalism can be considered to be the key localization theories. Modern theories include, e.g., the theory of production and profit cycles and new economic geography. Foreign direct investment localization is a specific question of localization theory. In this context, the issue of localization of investments in the car industry is now being researched. The specific localization factors have been identified as a result of car industry regional distribution analysis across the Czech Republic. These factors include the tradition of the automotive branch, the strategic location of the region, the privatization process, large car factory proximity, etc.

In the area of agricultural policy and the balanced growth of the countryside, the European Union promotes technological development and creation of jobs in ways that fulfil the criteria of ecological sustainability. The latest reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy are focused on the development of the countryside, which should greatly contribute to the solution of economic, social and environmental problems. The rural development policy is a part of the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU. The main opportunity for the development of the Czech countryside, and agriculture, is aimed at ensuring constant, sustainable growth and employment. It is necessary to fully utilise the cultural traditions, natural resources and the non-productive functions of agriculture and forestry in conjunction with the principles of environmental conservation and looking after the land. The fundamental strategic document which contributes to the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy is the National Strategic Plan for the development of the countryside of the Czech Republic in the period 2007-2013. The agenda for the development of the countryside of the CR in the period 2007-2013 specifies the individual objectives for development of rural areas, and it is an instrument for receiving support from the EU.

The process of the economic globalization limiting the autonomy of national subjects completed the disintegration of the Westphalian system. The rebirth of regionalism, as another phase of the world economy regionalization, is a logical defensive reaction. However, apart from the regional labour division, a new regionalism emerges, interconnecting even distant subjects. Next to the usual economic reasons, the new regionalism is motivated also by the strengthening of regional resistance. It is the strategy that plays a major role in the development of regionalism.