Urban system as a factor of regional development in Croatia

Predmet istraživanja diplomskog rada je analiza stupnja povezanosti između obilježja urbanog sistema i regionalnog razvoja Republike Hrvatske. Naglasak je stavljen na analizu obilježja gradova u sklopu nacionalnog i regionalnih urbanih sistema te njihov međuodnos i utjecaj na postojeći stupanj razvijenosti županija. Urbani sistem karakteriziraju izrazite nepravilnosti u hijerarhijskom i prostornom aspektu što dovodi do zaostajanja u razvoju pojedinih područja. Rezultati analize ukazuju na izravnu povezanost pojedinih obilježja urbanog sistema i stupnja razvijenosti županija, kao i na nužnost poticanja razvoja gradova u problemskim područjima kako bi se stabilizirali negativni demografski i gospodarski procesi.The research subject of master thesis is an analysis of the degree of connection between the characteristics of the urban system and regional development in Croatia. Emphasis is placed on analysis of the characteristics of cities as part of national and regional urban systems and their interrelationship and impact on the existing level of counties' development. The urban system is characterized by extreme irregularities in the hierarchical and spatial aspects leading to a lag in the development of certain areas. Analysis results indicate a direct connection between the certain elements of the urban system and development level of counties, as well as the necessity of developing the cities in the problem areas in order to stabilize the negative demographic and economic processes