Polycentricity and regional development: an analytical framework and some evidence from Italy

This paper analyses the relationships between polycentricity and regional development, under a multi-dimensional and policy oriented conceptualization of development. We provide an analytical framework and an explorative analysis of Italian regions, by taking into account several aspects of spatial structure. We found that competitiveness is positively associated with agglomeration and negatively with polycentricity. However, larger regions show to be less inclusive, while there is a positive association between polycentricity and social cohesion. Our results allow for a discussion on regional polycentricity and its effectiveness when planning and evaluating public policies, possibly enriching the debate on regional policy assessment and implementation.