Regional inequality in Serbia as a development problem

Abstract

The aim of this paper, in the context of the contemporary socio-economic changes in Serbia, is to consider changes in the regional development policy, and therefore in the approach to underdeveloped areas. A special attention is paid to regional inequality as a developmental problem since it directly influences the integrative processes, violating them, and therefore leads to side effects (economic, social, demographic, ecological, spatial, etc.). In Serbia, traditionally undeveloped areas (rural, hilly-mountainous and border/peripheral) have formed during a longer historical period, contrary to the new types of areas - municipalities (»devastated areas«) that are connected to the transition period (»transition poverty«). Both appeared by cause and effect reaction to natural, socio-economic, social, demographic, cultural-civilizational and political factors.