Abstract
A functional region is characterised by a high frequency of intra-regional interaction. The text analyses how functional regions can be identified by using labour market data. Three approaches are applied in this task, named the local labour market, commuting zone, and accessibility approach, respectively. The text includes an application using the Fyrstad region. The situation is also studied at two points in time. The outcomes using the different approaches are compared, and the results combined have a richer flavour.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
A municipality is the smallest civil jurisdiction in Sweden. Counties consist of several municipalities, which include both urban and non-urban areas.
References
Andersson Å, Strömquist U (1988) K-samhällets framtid. Prisma, Värnamo
Beckmann JM (1996) Spatial Equilibrium in Labour Markets. In: Van den Bergh JCJM, Nijkamp P, Rietveld P (eds) Recent advances in spatial equilibrium modelling, methodology and applications. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 111–117
Bradford MG, Kent WA (1981) Human geography, theories and their applications. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Brown LA, Holmes J (1971) The delimitation of functional regions, nodal regions, and hierarchies by functional distance approaches. J Reg Sci 11:57–72
CERUM (1993) Creating labour market areas and employment zones. Umeå University print, Umeå
Christaller W (1933) translated by Baskin CW (1966) Central places in Southern Germany. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs
Hay D, Hall P (1978) Urban Regionalisation of Sweden, European Urban Systems Working Paper 2 (2nd edition). Department of Geography, University of Reading
Hemmasi M (1980) The identification of functional regions based on lifetime migration data: a case study of Iran. Econ Geogr 56:223–233
Johansson B (1998) Infrastructure, Market Potential and Endogenous Growth. Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping (Mimeo)
Johansson B, Klaesson J, Olsson M (2003) Commuters’ non-linear response to time distances. J Geogr Syst 5:315–329
Johnston KP (1995) Redefinition of the BEA Economic Areas. Surv Curr Bus 75–81
Karlsson C (1994) Regioner och nätverk i Europa, En forskningsöversikt. Landstingsförbundet, Stockholm
Killian MS, Tolbert CM (1993) Mapping social and economic space: the delineation of local labour markets in the United States. In: Singelmann J, Desaran FA (eds) Inequalities in Labour Market Areas. Westview, Boulder, pp 69–79
Krugman P (1991) Geography and trade. The MIT, Cambridge Massachusetts
Kullenberg J, Persson LO (1997) Tänjbara räckvidder, Lokala arbetsmarknader i förändring. Swedish Institute for Regional Research, Stockholm
Lösch A (1938) The nature of economic regions. South Econ J 5:71–78
Micklander Å (1971) Commuting and commuting areas. Allmänna Förlaget, Stockholm
Nilsson R (2001) Agglomeration economies and specialisation in functional regions in Sweden, JIBS research reports 2001–2. Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping
NUTEK (1997) Regioner på väg mot år 2015, Förutsättningar, fakta och tendenser, NUTEK R 1997:10. NUTEK, Stockholm
Olsson M (2002) Studies of Commuting and Labour Market Integration, JIBS dissertation Series No. 016. Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping
Rouwendal J (1998) Search theory, spatial labor markets, and commuting. J Urban Econ 43:1–22
SCB (Statistics Sweden) (1992) Local labour markets and employment regions, a new regional division of labour market areas in Sweden grounded on commuting statistics, labour information 1991:7. SCB, Stockholm
SIKA (The SIKA-institute) (2000) Transports and communications, Yearbook 2000/2001. SIKA, Värnamo
Vanhove N, Klaassen LH (1987) Regional policy: a European approach, 2nd edn. Avebury, Gower Publishing Company Limited, Aldershot
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Other Sources
The county administration of Västra Götaland, www.o.lst.se
Florkemeier H, Functional Regions and the Measurement of Economic Integration, http://www.vwl.uni-freiburg.de/fakultaet/stoeko/assis/functional.pdf
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Karlsson, C., Olsson, M. The identification of functional regions: theory, methods, and applications. Ann Reg Sci 40, 1–18 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-005-0019-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-005-0019-5