Comparative Analysis of National and County Development Strategies Was Conducted by Veiko Sepp on the Commission of the Foresight Centre

1/4

Comparative analysis of national and county level development strategies

The analysis aims to determine –– the concentration of Estonia’s economic development, and compare how different –– the scope of development regions, incl. cross- national development documents border opportunities that support development, –– alternatives to regional specialisation, and county development –– institutional framework of regional development, strategies treat: –– guiding values of development.

National level strategic development documents Helsinki (Kotka) triangle. For many smaller counties, with a regional aspect (Regional Development international cooperation is not a prime option for Strategy – RDS, Estonia 2030) frown on the con- development – at least the county strategies make no centration of economic activities and human mention of this. resources, instead setting their sights on the regional balance of economy from the “realist Both national development documents that guide point of view”. Instead of regional equality, the objec- Estonia’s territorial development (RDS and Estonia tive is to compensate for the regional disadvantages 2030) view multilevel governance model as the foun- and avoid stacking the negative consequences of dation for the institutional framework. The goal set in regional inequalities. The Estonian Entrepreneurship the Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy is cooperation Growth Strategy 2014–2020, on the other hand, sees across political fields, and involvement of non-govern- no problem in economic concentration and gears mental partners; regional entrepreneurship develop- towards large companies with strong growth potential. ment activities hand the key role to county development centres. The key difference in defining the territorial scope of development regions appears in national develop- A separate study was conducted on the values behind ment documents. The RDS and Estonia 2030 with the different development documents. Estonia’s their regional focus operate with local activity spaces, national, regional, and county development docu- while the Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy treats ments are dominated by modern values – economic the whole Estonia as one development region with the growth, competitiveness, increased productivity, centre in Tallinn. etc. While the Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy is modernist throughout, the regional development The international and cross-border options of documents sometimes also include softer “post- regional development are described fairly super- modern” values, such as sustainability, efficiency, ficially in the strategies. For Tallinn, the declared community, participation, etc. as principles that guide main cross-border partners are Helsinki and Saint the development. However, the environmental goals Petersburg; for Tartu, the goal is to engage with Pskov in development documents have also mainly been and Riga. Ida-Viru County is seeking options for presented through the prism of economic growth and development within the Tallinn–Saint Petersburg– better competitiveness.

The study Comparative Analysis of National and County Development Strategies was conducted by Veiko Sepp on the commission of the Foresight Centre. The purpose of the study is to compare national and county strategies by different dimensions of regional development. Research contact: Uku Varblane, Project Manager of Regional Economy Research, Foresight Centre, [email protected]. 2/4

National strategies

Regional Planning Energy economy County Growth strategy development document development development Estonia 2020 strategy Estonia 2030 plan centres strategy

Scope of Local activity 15 local activity Estonia; Estonia; also 15 counties development space spaces non-defined counties as the region regions measurement grid

Regional In urban areas, In urban areas, Businesses in specialisation as a principle; as a principle growth sectors in regions and counties, as a proposal at the level of economic sectors

Concentration Balance, incl. as Balance Focus on large, Distributed Increased of economic a measurable key, and generation as a salaries outside development indicator growth clients general principle Tallinn through (% of Harju (businesses) but not as a business County GDP) measurable goal competitiveness

Cross-border Cross-border General oppor- Cross-border Transition from and interna- labour force tunities: Talsinki; and all-European BRELL to Central tional areas and Ida-Viru County cooperation of European power opportunities general -Saint Petersburg businesses and grids cross-border region; Tartu- research cooperation Pskov-Riga; institutions Valga-Valka

Regional Multi-level Multi-level State-level deve- Government institutional governance, governance, lopers – Ministry funding, county framework integrity of partnership in of Economic development levels county planning Affairs and Com- centres cooperate papers, munications, with interest interregional technology groups, local cooperation development governments, centres and clus- unions of local ters; in counties governments, – county deve- participation of lopment centres businesses

Guiding Development Competitive- Growth and Growth of Growth and values of and growth; ness combined competitiveness competitive- competitiveness development ecological values with diversity of ness; ecological as a resource in lifestyles (incl. values through the framework eco-lifestyle) environmental of regional requirements specialisation based on EU climate and energy policy

County development strategies

Harju County Tartu County Ida-Viru County Pärnu County Scope of Harju County Tartu County; South Ida-Viru County Pärnu County development Estonia as a tourism region marketing region Regional Knowledge intensive Home of smart Division within the Region specific specialisation economy, incl. businesses; county: industrial fields of competence smart production horizontal and and business regions which form the basis and high added vertical and recreational for entrepreneurship value services specialisation regions; circular with higher added in general economy based on value: adding value mining sector to natural resources, resorts and medical rehabilitation biotechnology, silver economy Concentration Estonia’s The most attractive Development County and of economic development county in South opportunities based regional centre development engine Estonia on the growth of Pärnu is Estonia’s metropolitan areas summer capital in the Gulf of Finland region Cross-border and North European Finnish, Russian, Part of the Gulf of Environmentally international attraction centre Latvian, Lithuanian Finland development conscious and opportunities and Tallinn-Helsinki and German tourism region, which family friendly as twin cities; markets; rail link to includes Tallinn, region in the Baltic fast, sustainable Riga Helsinki and Saint Sea area; Via Baltica, and comfortable Petersburg metropo- Rail Baltic, air links links to other litan areas and the to Nordic countries countries industrial, logistical and recreational areas between these (incl. Ida-Viru County) Regional Harju County South Estonia Deve- Ida Viru County Regional institutional Development lopment Agency Union of Local innovation framework Committee, which with its nearly 100 Governments system involves unions employees works on of local governments transport, industry and other and tourism deve- organisations lopment as well as marketing the region and its businesses Lead values of Knowledge-intensive Tartu County strategy Economic Success in the Baltic development economy, high added sets the focus on development, Sea space; care for value; living environ- human beings. large added value one another, open- ment is safe and Population numbers ness, participation, green; content, and changes are the consistency, innovation oriented key indication of cooperation, and active people development. Centre green mindset and community that of culture and edu- values its home and cation in Estonia; culture; life is good South Estonia’s in Harju County! largest department store green university town and European capital of culture

County development strategies

Võru County Valga County Jõgeva County Järva County Scope of Võru County – Valga County; Jõgeva County; part Järva County development Võro and Seto SE Estonia coopera- of Tartu regional region communities tion region activity space Regional Smartly adding Region-specific com- Agriculture, food Traditional specialisation value to local petence and growth and wood sectors entrepreneurship, resources: wood, areas – social welfare new economy and food, recreational that supports digni- smart jobs; economy fied ageing, energy efficient logistics and tourism marketing that uses the regional resource and cooperation potential Concentration Well-being in Goal of reducing Residential and of economic the context of a differences with meeting area of development downsizing county the regional centre, pro-active citizens i.e. Tartu County where new cooperation formats are tested and created, trailblazer in Estonia Cross-border Connections to Valga-Valka cross- Return of shipping and international neighbouring border cooperation to Lake Peipus opportunities countries in services (health care, education, security); fast rail links to Riga and Saint Petersburg Regional National regional South Estonia’s joint Strengthening the Regional innovation institutional programmes; coope- investor services county development system; sectoral framework ration of entrepre- organisation advisory councils neurship support and strategic structures (Võru steering group County Development Centre, Unemploy- ment Insurance Fund, TSENTER); network of business sectors Lead values of Happiness and Entrepreneurial Well-being, value of Flexibility and human- development coping of the spirit, innovation, living environment, centeredness of residents; clean care for others, com- accepting downsizing work; participation, nature and living bination of diverse community spirit, environment, cultures; ecology well planned coop- unique Võro and through technolo- eration, sustainable Seto cultures gies and awareness and ecologically sound lifestyle