STATISTICAL REGIONS IN SERBIA

Abstract

This paper presents the statistical regionalization in Serbia. The primary focus of the paper is on the goals and institutional aspects of regionalization. The outline of the solution is laid out together with those goals and aspects’ critical review, general guidelines on possible changes, with the main goal to provide a symmetrical treatment of statistical regions and provide greater functionality in regional development planning. The role of inter-municipal cooperation in ensuring regional development is also analyzed, as well as the possibility of its affirmation at the regional level. Through statistical regions in Serbia, "economic regionalization" was implemented, because spatial delimitation of parts of the territory to the statistical regions (and the areas) is based solely on population, technical and economic criteria, for the purpose of economic policy and development planning, which remain under the jurisdiction of central government authority. The statistical regions do not possess legal subjectivity, nor do they have the characteristics of territorial decentralization. Through regional councils and regional development agencies, certain forms of functional regionalization are created, in the sense that there are specific bodies established by the state, which have certain authority in the creation and implementation of regional development policy.