Regional/local development, a model for regional development

iiABSTRACTREGIONAL/LOCAL DEVELOPMENT, A MODEL FOR REGIONALDEVELOPMENTAKTAKAS, Başak GülM.A.Thesis, Department of EconomicsSupervisor: Asst.Prof.Dr.Yelda TEKGÜLSeptember 2006, 189 pagesFollowing the World War II, regional development concept began to be importantand it was introduced to economics literature. Therefore, the issue of economics andsocial development was taken into consideration.Regional development approach, as it had occurred because of inequitabledistribution in economic geography, became a current issue on the social agenda via re-formation of settlement hierarchy such as metropolis-region, city-small town and villagesettlements.Current hierarchy accounts for a local development necessity which is local fromregion in patches, namely it must go more inside.In other words, all small pieces which compose the integrity have becomeprominent and after all the need to eliminate those developmental differences becameinevitable. In this context, governance as an emerging concept is crucial for localdevelopment. Rural development is not neglected in regional/local development and itis included in the subject. Especially regional/local development funds are importantsource of finance in European Community and OECD. Those funds supportunderdeveloped regions for economic development and employment.After European Community and OECD are analysed, Turkey is discussed andÇukurova Region and its centre city of Adana argue as a model regional/localdevelopment. In this context, current situation of Adana, the matters of Adana andsolution suggestions for these matters are emphasized.Key words: Regional development, local development, governance, rural development,Adana