Policies for small and medium-sized towns: European, national and local approaches

Atkinson, Rob

Abstract

© 2017 Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG This paper addresses the ‘policy dimension’ of the TOWN project drawing on the implications of the case studies for policy(ies) for small and medium-sized towns (SMSTs) across Europe. It first considers approaches at European and national levels to SMSTs arguing in recent years there has been limited recognition that SMSTs have a significant role to play in the European territory. The paper provides an illustrative selection of towns from the ten case study countries. The research shows that the category SMSTs contains a varied and often dissimilar group of towns in a wide variety of regional contexts. This is true not only between countries but within them. The results indicate that while there are actions to support SMSTs that can be done at European level a prescriptive ‘one-size fits all’ approach should be avoided. Policy approaches should be developed within particular national and regional contexts supported by the European level.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 29, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Feb 27, 2017
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: May 31, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 28, 2019
• Journal: Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie
• Print ISSN: 0040-747X
• Electronic ISSN: 1467-9663
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 108
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 472-487
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tesg.12253
• Keywords: small and medium sized towns, policies, European
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/880400
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tesg.12253
• Additional Information: Corporate Creators : ESPON
• Contract Date: May 31, 2016