ESPON 1.4.2 - Social

1. ESPON 1.4.2 - Social Preparatory Study on Social Aspects of EU Territorial Development

2. 4 KEY FIELDS Access to Social Services, SGEIs; Public Transfer Employment and Income Distribution Housing and Territorial Development Education and Training Objectives and main research questions • 1.4.2 investigates main elements - of the relationship between social and territorial development- displaying trends and disparities - onNUTS 3 • 1.4.2 aims to - provide scientific information, - as a preliminary step - to integrate social aspects into territorial analysis in the future • 1.4.2 is a preparatory studyto investigate and evaluate - main elements of future projects- within ESPON - to be financed in the next programming period

3. Number of licensed physicians/doctors per 100,000 inhabitants in 2003 Empirical results I The European Social Model is a mosaic • On EU level exist only strategic documents • Social policy lies in the responsibility of the MS • Organisation of social policy differs from MS to MS and even within the MS -> challenge for territorial cohesion -> further research must consider national / regional framework

4. Empirical results II Ratio of households owning their own dwelling In 2004 Finding data describing social aspects of regional development is difficult • 80% of 230 assessed indicators are only available at national level • in the field of employment exists a quite good data base • data about territorial accessibility of educational and social institutions are missing on regional level -> improvement of data-situation and a creative approach concerning indicators essential

5. Interrelationship between social sectors and territorial development Based on a hypothesis driven sketch built on expert knowledge: • interconnections between the analysed core themes • thematic clusters with social-territorial interdependencies • 7 societal-territorial themes identified • in many fields insufficient empirical evidence exists about their structure -> empirical proof for social-territorial cause-impact-chains necessary

6. P 1: „The impact of education and child care on regional employment, migration and territorial cohesion“ “vertical” / “policy” - approach: analysis of the cause-effect relations for a certain sector on all geographical levels Expected results: • analysis of the the differences of social policies of education and child care on EU / national / regional level • a picture of the empirical regional differences of education and child care in ESPON space • linkages (functional chains) between social / territorial access to education / child care and employment / migration based on empiricaldata • Identification of elements of social policies with most influence on territorial cohesion / segregation (e.g. how much a stronger common European policy on social cohesion could contribute to the territorial cohesion)

7. P2: „The relationship of social aspects of territorial development in theory and practice in typical regional territorial settings” “horizontal” / “theoretical-empirical driven” approach: analysis of the cause-effect relations and the systemic patterns in differing spatial settings thus simulating “laboratory conditions” Expected results: • a theory-based and empirically tested “model on social aspects of regional development” (common theoretical framework of all the components of social policies and their territorial impact) • a typologypicturing social aspects of territorial trends reflecting topographic, demographic and socio-economic conditions (e.g. sparely populated rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas) • general facts describing the social aspects of regional development (based on selected case studies) • a basis for sound management of the compound of different social policy measures at the regional level including the impact of such interventions on territorial cohesion

8. Thank you for your attention