Knowledge-based enterprises distribution in the urban and rural areas of Latvia
2015
Zaluksne, V., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia). Faculty of Economics and Social Development | Rivza, B., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia). Faculty of Economics and Social Development
Transformation of the Latvian economy towards knowledge-based services and industries is one of the main national development goals. In this study, the authors have studied the main economic sectors and enterprises in knowledge-intensive and technology-intensive industries in Latvia. We studied economic sectoral distribution around the different categories of territories, ranging from the largest cities to the rural districts of Latvia. Authors divided the Latvian territorial space in four types: (a) Rural-districts as mainly rural territories that lack even a small urbanised nucleus; (b) Town-districts as hinterland of small and medium-sized urban core; (c) Towns – as separate cores of Town-districts. (d) Cities as nine larger urbanised cores. In general, we can say that in 2013, 68% of the population of Latvia resided in larger or smaller towns and cities, and only 32% in rural areas. A similar situation was observed with respect to a number of enterprises. We can say that 80% of companies are located in small or large urban areas and only 20% in rural areas. Data analysis leads to conclusion that the higher degree of urbanization, the greater the number of people employed in high-technology manufacturing industries and knowledge intensive services sectors. However, less-knowledge intensive services play an important role in all types of territories. This study has implications for understanding that even small urbanised core in the district play an important role in local economies, because in all four territory types we found different sectoral specialization profile. It is in line with the urban hierarchy and theoretical concepts of territorial specialization.
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