Examining Urban Competitiveness: A Qualitative Study and Recommendations for Niğde Province in The TR71 NUTS-2 Region

Ayşe Akbulut Başar

Article Details

Examining Urban Competitiveness: A Qualitative Study and Recommendations for Niğde Province in The TR71 NUTS-2 Region

Authors:

Ayşe Akbulut Başar

Publisher:

Sakarya University

Main Topics:

Kentsel Politika

Journal:

Journal of Political Administrative and Local Studies Vol.7 Issue 2, pp.57-71

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001338699

pISSN:

2636-803X

Keywords:

Abstract:

 After the conditions imposed by the global economy, the delineation of distinct borders between countries has once again become evident. In a world where it is increasingly important to maintain local values while meeting international standards, competitiveness that has economic and social significance has prompted cities to reconsider their growth strategies. The aim of this study is to examine the concept of urban competitiveness, its measurement methods, and its relationship with the planning process from the perspective of urban and regional planning discipline. Through a qualitative study focusing on Niğde Province in the TR71 NUTS Level 2 Region, competitiveness indices and sub-indicators, along with socio-economic development indicators, are chronologically evaluated from the past to the present. Considering Niğdes evolution over the years, the analyses indicate that under macroeconomic stability index, financial depth index, labor market index, human capital index, creative capital index, social capital index, and physical infrastructure index, Niğde has progressively fallen behind in the national rankings each year. Areas where Niğde has competitive advantages include access to financial services and international markets, but it faces disadvantages in terms of foreign capital presence and level of business activity. Socio-economically, Niğde is among the least developed provinces in the TR71 Region, which includes other provinces like Kırıkkale, Nevşehir, Kırşehir, and Aksaray, and it has consistently remained among the least developed provinces over the years. Development initiatives such as collaborations and regional coordinations facilitate achieving goals from national development plans down to lower-tiered sub-plans. Exchange of knowledge and technology among cities and regions contributes to achieving growth objectives in the global competitive environment. Urban and regional planning emerges as a discipline at the heart of all these developments. Utilizing regional plans and spatial strategic planning is expected to facilitate the discovery of local potentials and guide economic investments, both domestic and foreign, by monitoring developments in other regions.

 After the conditions imposed by the global economy, the delineation of distinct borders between countries has once again become evident. In a world where it is increasingly important to maintain local values while meeting international standards, competitiveness that has economic and social significance has prompted cities to reconsider their growth strategies. The aim of this study is to examine the concept of urban competitiveness, its measurement methods, and its relationship with the planning process from the perspective of urban and regional planning discipline. Through a qualitative study focusing on Niğde Province in the TR71 NUTS Level 2 Region, competitiveness indices and sub-indicators, along with socio-economic development indicators, are chronologically evaluated from the past to the present. Considering Niğdes evolution over the years, the analyses indicate that under macroeconomic stability index, financial depth index, labor market index, human capital index, creative capital index, social capital index, and physical infrastructure index, Niğde has progressively fallen behind in the national rankings each year. Areas where Niğde has competitive advantages include access to financial services and international markets, but it faces disadvantages in terms of foreign capital presence and level of business activity. Socio-economically, Niğde is among the least developed provinces in the TR71 Region, which includes other provinces like Kırıkkale, Nevşehir, Kırşehir, and Aksaray, and it has consistently remained among the least developed provinces over the years. Development initiatives such as collaborations and regional coordinations facilitate achieving goals from national development plans down to lower-tiered sub-plans. Exchange of knowledge and technology among cities and regions contributes to achieving growth objectives in the global competitive environment. Urban and regional planning emerges as a discipline at the heart of all these developments. Utilizing regional plans and spatial strategic planning is expected to facilitate the discovery of local potentials and guide economic investments, both domestic and foreign, by monitoring developments in other regions.

 After the conditions imposed by the global economy, the delineation of distinct borders between countries has once again become evident. In a world where it is increasingly important to maintain local values while meeting international standards, competitiveness that has economic and social significance has prompted cities to reconsider their growth strategies. The aim of this study is to examine the concept of urban competitiveness, its measurement methods, and its relationship with the planning process from the perspective of urban and regional planning discipline. Through a qualitative study focusing on Niğde Province in the TR71 NUTS Level 2 Region, competitiveness indices and sub-indicators, along with socio-economic development indicators, are chronologically evaluated from the past to the present. Considering Niğdes evolution over the years, the analyses indicate that under macroeconomic stability index, financial depth index, labor market index, human capital index, creative capital index, social capital index, and physical infrastructure index, Niğde has progressively fallen behind in the national rankings each year. Areas where Niğde has competitive advantages include access to financial services and international markets, but it faces disadvantages in terms of foreign capital presence and level of business activity. Socio-economically, Niğde is among the least developed provinces in the TR71 Region, which includes other provinces like Kırıkkale, Nevşehir, Kırşehir, and Aksaray, and it has consistently remained among the least developed provinces over the years. Development initiatives such as collaborations and regional coordinations facilitate achieving goals from national development plans down to lower-tiered sub-plans. Exchange of knowledge and technology among cities and regions contributes to achieving growth objectives in the global competitive environment. Urban and regional planning emerges as a discipline at the heart of all these developments. Utilizing regional plans and spatial strategic planning is expected to facilitate the discovery of local potentials and guide economic investments, both domestic and foreign, by monitoring developments in other regions.

 Bu çalışmanın amacı, şehir ve bölge planlama disiplini perspektifinden kentsel rekabet kavramını, ölçme yöntemlerini ve planlama süreci ile ilişkisini incelemektir. TR71 İBBS-II Bölgesindeki Niğde İli örneği üzerinden nitel bir çalışma ile rekabet endeksi ve alt göstergeleri, sosyo-ekonomik gelişmişlik göstergeleri ile birlikte kronolojik olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Niğdenin yıllar içerisindeki değişimi dikkate alındığında, rekabet endeksinin altında yer alan makroekonomik istikrar endeksi, finansal derinlik endeksi, emek piyasası endeksi, insan sermayesi endeksi, yaratıcı sermaye endeksi, sosyal sermaye endeksi ve fiziki altyapı endeksi başlıkları altında Türkiye sıralamasında gerilediği görülmektedir. Rekabet gücü açısından finansal hizmetlerden yararlanma ve uluslararası pazarlara erişim avantajlı iken, yabancı sermaye varlığı ve iş yapma düzeyi konularında dezavantajlıdır. Sosyo-ekonomik olarak da TR71 Bölgesinde bulunan diğer iller olan Kırıkkale, Nevşehir, Kırşehir ve Aksaray içerisinde en az gelişmiş il konumundadır. Dışa açık, dinamik bir öğrenen bölge stratejisi izleyebilmesi için Niğdenin alternatif gelişme senaryoları ile planlar üretmesi gerektiği ortaya çıkmaktadır. Kent planlama faaliyetlerinin çağın koşullarına uyum sağlayarak, kentin vizyonuna bağlı kalarak ilerlemesi gerektiği saptanmıştır. İş birlikleri ve bölgesel koordinasyonlar, ulusal kalkınma planlarından başlayarak hedeflere ulaşmayı kolaylaştırmaktadır. Kentler arası bilgi ve teknoloji paylaşımı, küresel rekabet ortamında büyüme hedeflerinin gerçekleştirilmesine katkı sağlamaktadır. Şehir ve bölge planlama, bu gelişmelerin odağında yer alarak, yerel potansiyeli keşfetmek ve ekonomik yatırımları yönlendirmek açısından önemlidir.

Article Details

Examining Urban Competitiveness: A Qualitative Study and Recommendations for Niğde Province in The TR71 NUTS-2 Region

Authors:

Ayşe Akbulut Başar

Publisher:

Sakarya University

Main Topics:

Kentsel Politika

Journal:

Journal of Political Administrative and Local Studies Vol.7 Issue 2, pp.57-71

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001338699

pISSN:

2636-803X

Urban Competitiveness

Regional Competitiveness

City and Regional Planning

TR71

Nigde: Kentsel Rekabet

Bölgesel Rekabet

Şehir ve Bölge Planlama

TR71

Niğde

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Ayşe Akbulut Başar

Publisher: Sakarya University

Main Topics: Kentsel Politika

Journal: Journal of Political Administrative and Local Studies Vol.7 Issue 2, pp.57-71

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001338699

pISSN: 2636-803X

Issues

Authors:

Ayşe Akbulut Başar

Publisher:

Sakarya University

Main Topics:

Kentsel Politika

Journal:

Journal of Political Administrative and Local Studies Vol.7 Issue 2, pp.57-71

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001338699

pISSN:

2636-803X