The study aims at investigating policy directions and possible measures to increase regional competitiveness of Kyunggi Province. For this, it is assumed that regional competitiveness is composed of three components: spatial competitiveness, industria...
The study aims at investigating policy directions and possible measures to increase regional competitiveness of Kyunggi Province. For this, it is assumed that regional competitiveness is composed of three components: spatial competitiveness, industrial competitiveness and education & cultural competitiveness.
As an attempt to enhance spatial competitiveness, three approaches are suggested. First, it is emphasized that the existing balanced regional development policies should be re-designed reflecting on the mega-trend of globalization. Competetiton and localization should be the key elements of new regional development policy instead of equality or equal distribution. Second, it is suggested that the introduction of RFD(regulation-free districts) is needed to increase the competitiveness of under-developed regions (such as the northern border regions and Nature Preservation Area in the east) in Kyunggi Province. Finally it is stressed that one or two model cities of transportation should be designated in the north-east region to mitigate traffic congestion and further to increase the regional growth potential.
In order to increase industrial competitiveness, two policy alternatives are proposed: integration of pollutant ceiling system and plant ceiling system, removal of non-urban plants to the retarded area. The two systems, pollutant ceiling system and plant ceiling system, aim at regulating newly establishment of manufacturing plants in the Capital Region although they are separately carried out by different authorities. However if they were connected each other in operation, then we can avoid institutional inefficiency and redundant regulations on plant permission. There are many non-urban manufacturing plants in the congested area which is suffering from housing shortage due to lack of developable lands. In the mean time, the poor region is suffering from high unemployment because of weak industrial base. With this in mind it is suggested that removal of non-urban plants from the congested area to the poor area can contribute in solving both problems together; increasing job opportunities in the poor region while supplying developable lands in the congested area.
Finally two policies are suggested to enhance education & cultural competitiveness. It is proposed to establish Kyunggi cluster belt of cultural industries by linking Seongnam-Goyang-Bucheon which have relatively high cultural potential. The cluster can enjoy higher competitiveness by attracting leading cultural firms around the cities. It is also suggested that a new education supporting system is required to efficiently meet
various educational needs in Kyunggi area. Especially to increase the competitiveness of higher education, the existing government regulations on the universities in the Capital Region should be abolished as soon as possible.