EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Spatial aspects of the Information Society

Spatial aspects of the Information Society - ESPON Project 1.2.3

Introduction

Spatial aspects of the Information Society characterise the information society from a territorial perspective and analyse its territorial aspects at macro, meso and micro level. The underlying objective is to assess the possible contribution of the information society to balanced spatial development, territorial cohesion and polycentricity.

Description

The development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the liberalisation of the telecom sector have given a growing number of people access to all sorts of information. It has also improved the communication between citizens, businesses and public administrations, removing the constraints of time, place and distance, making the world a “global village”. One could say, this technological development is a key to the development of the knowledge based economy, an economy in which information can be transmitted and be accessed by all – The Information Society (IS).

The project looks into both decentralised and centralised territorial effects of the emergence of the information society. It covers not only the obvious areas, i.e. the highly developed urban areas. The rural and peripheral areas of the European Union are also included. IS could be an important step towards their development. It can play a role in the development of urban-rural functional relations as well.

Methodology

The findings of the project are based on literature analyses, statistical comparisons and empirical studies.

EU involvement

The project was launched in the framework of the European Spatial Planning Observatory Network (the ESPON programme) which is financed by the EU Community Initiative INTERREG IIIB.

Conclusions

Significant differences in terms of IS performance in Europe were observed. North-south and east-west divides are the most apparent divisions in this respect. Northern European countries, and particularly Nordic countries, generally have a more developed IS compared to southern and eastern Europe.
The new member states (including Romania and Bulgaria) lag behind the general European pattern. However, there are exceptions. Estonia, for example, has a more advanced IS compared to many of the Mediterranean member countries and other new member states.
While national differences are significant, there are also considerable intra-country inequalities in IS development. National averages partly hide behind national variations: in some cases, top regions of low performing countries do better than low regions in high performing IS countries.
The expansion of infrastructure is a necessary but insufficient condition for building an IS. Promoting IS, acquainting school students with new technologies and possibilities of their applications in the economy and in everyday life are just as important.

Contact info

Warsaw University, Centre for European Regional and Local Studies (EUROREG)
Grzegorz Gorzelak (Professor), tel. +48 22 8261654

Publication date

01/05/2006

Researcher

ESPON Transnational Project Group on Spatial aspects of the Information Society

Links

Read the report on the ESPON website The ESPON Programme Warsaw University, Centre for European Regional and Local Studies (EUROREG)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy

Keywords

Economy knowledge & employment, Transport and infrastructure