Monocentric or polycentric?: Defining morphological structure of Nuts-2 regions of Turkey from 2000 to 2016

Abstract

The popularity of polycentricity has been increasing in recent years. European spatial planning literature and policy documents that emphasize the positive effects of polycentricity can be one of the reason increase in the popularity of the concept. Although not as clear and planned as in European countries, it is argued that, Turkey's metropolitan cities are also evolving from monocentric spatial structure to polycentric ones. However, there is no empirical study on the measurement of this spatial evolution at national and micro-regional scale in Turkey. From this point of view, this study aims to clarify changes in the morphological structure of Turkey from 2000 to 2016 at national and micro-regional scales and to examine the proposition of 'the spatial configurations of the settlements, especially metropolitans, have been evolving from monocentric to polycentric as results of the dynamics of the 21st century' in Turkey case. The results of empirical analyses show that there is a possibility for Turkey to be a more monocentric in following years if the historical trends continuous.

Polycentricity in a developing world: A micro-regional analysis for morphological polycentricity in Turkey

“…Polycentric spatial development, which is highly supported by ESDP and is becoming more popular, is the main concern of this study. Although not as clear and planned as in European countries, it is observed that, some of the metropolitan cities in Turkey are also evolving from monocentric spatial structure to polycentric ones (Sat 2018). Nevertheless, there is very limited empirical evidence on the measurement of this spatial evolution at micro-regional scale in Turkey.…”

Concept of polycentricity-the differences between development policies and spatial reality

“…For the purpose of this paper we have used four analytical methods, which represent an integral part in the analysis of many researches in the field of regional geography and planning (Aydan, 2018;Đerčan et al, 2017;Filipović, 2020;Krunić, 2012aKrunić, , 2012bNevenić, 2013;Živanović et al, 2019). The aim is to use those methods which will represent Vojvodina's urban structure in the most efficient way, as well as the horizontal (spatial) and vertical (functional) hierarchy of the settlements and their interrelation.…”

“…It has been applied in urban geography since the 1960s. This method provides information about the hierarchy of settlements in one administrative unit, usually based on the analysis of demographic and economic data (Aydan, 2018;Burger & Meijers, 2012;Đerčan et al, 2017;Sinclair-Smtih, 2015;Živanović et al, 2019).…”

“…Therefore, the slope of the regression line is compared with the reference value. A flatter slope of the line (the slope β value < 1) indicates a polycentric region, while a steeper slope of the line (inclination β value > 1) indicates a monocentric region (Aydan, 2018;Burger et al, 2014;Meijers, 2008).…”

“…It seeks to achieve two basic goals: to increase the spatial and functional cohesion of the region and to reduce interregional developmental disparities. *Corresponding author, e-mail: vedran.zivanovic@gmail.com Contemporary science recognizes two types of polycentricity: morphological and functional (Aydan, 2018;Burger, de Goei, van der Laan, & Huisman, 2011;Burger & Meijers 2012;De Goei, Burger, Van Oort, & Kitson, 2010;Hanssens, Derudder, van Aelst, & Witlox, 2013;Salvati, Ferrara, & Chelli, 2018;Van Oort, Burger, & Raspe, 2010, etc.). Morphological polycentricity basically refers to the existence (plurality) and distribution of urban centers in a particular region, as well as their ranking according to internal issues (number of cities in the region, population size of the cities, the spatial distance between them, individual participation in certain economic indicators of regional development, etc.).…”