Volume XVIII, Numbers 1-2, 2024

ABSTRACT – The era of dualism (1867-1918) was one of the most complex periods in the common history of Austria and Hungary (Austro-Hungarian Monarchy), as well as in the history of the nationalities living in the multiethnic Hungarian state at that time. In this era, political, economic, social, ethno-nationalist and other issues, as well as modernisation processes affecting almost all substructures of the above-mentioned entities intertwined and created real turbulence. All these factors had a significant and synergetic role in the transformation of the settlement network, particularly the group and network of cities. Urbanisation, both in terms of the growing number of cities and the modernisation of the inner infrastructures of larger cities, appeared as a major focal point of these changes. Budapest, the capital, was the only city in the country to be considered a metropolis by European standards of the time, and which had a truly unique development process. By Hungarian standards, “large cities” were those with a population of more than 30,000 inhabitants (defined by law in 1848), but of course this was a more complex issue in social, economic and functional terms. Basically, modern Hungarian science was born in the era of dualism. In connection with the process of urbanisation, geography, sociology, city administration and other fields of science developed in this period, and their respective scientific journals were established, too. Science, scientific literature and the development of cities mutually strengthened each other.

ABSTRACT – Our comparative research examines the changes in the economic position of two rural regional centres, Cluj-Napoca and Pécs, in the post-crisis period. We look at the trends that can be predicted for the regional dynamics in the post-pandemic period. We embed our research in the literature context of regional development theories. Our empirical research covers data from the largest local firms in each of the two cities, analysed from a labour productivity perspective. The source of our data is the Orbis Europe enterprise database, supplemented by Eurostat data at regional level. Our aim is to assess local trends not only in cross-section but also over time, and we therefore analyse data for the period between the two crises. Our results suggest that productivity challenges are a long-term issue at both the firm and regional level, and that their resolution cannot be postponed, as in a labour-scarce environment, extensive employment expansion can no longer serve economic growth in the 2020s. The regions of Cluj-Napoca and Pécs face somewhat different challenges, the former struggling to integrate its rural surroundings, while the latter faces a persistent difficulty in attracting external resources and in retaining and generating endogenous resources.

ABSTRACT – This study focuses on tourism-based territorial development in a theoretical and summary context. It aims to define the theoretical framework of a new spatial development model, based on previous research results. The clarification of the concepts of trade and hospitality, local products and local food also contributes to an objective interpretation. The model is based on the coordination of the development of three closely related economic sectors: tourism, excursions and recreation, and the production and marketing of local products. The study aims to assess the potential routes of economically and socially disadvantaged border regions for development, to identify the problems of these areas and to provide a theoretical basis for overcoming certain handicaps. The model presented in the study will help to develop tourism development and related development tools that can achieve a significant territorial development impact within their region.