Regional development policy in belgium

1. In the field of the regional geography of Belgium, the theme of the regional policy of Belgium is an important subject. 2. "Expansion Acts" of July 1959, July 1966, and December 1970, aimed to revive the economic activity of the depressed areas in Belgium by way of subsidies and loans. 3. After World War II, the Walloon region suffered from a structural depression in its coal and steel industries and it was forced to rationalize. On the other hand, the Flemish region had a hard time to switch from an agricultural land into an industrial one. The textile industry was a depressed economic sector and felt an unemployment problem owing to the progressive rationalization. 4. The Belgian government has depended on the investments of multinational enterprises, especially American ones, for economic growth and industrial restructuring. 5. Regional development policy has resulted in unequal regional development in Belgium. As a result, the Flemish region has converted its industrial structure from light industries to heavy-chemical industries in the coastal area. This has increased the disparity of economic development between the Flemish and Walloon regions