New Processes in Old Industrial Regions : The case of Leipzig-Halle Agglomeration, Upper Silesian Agglomeration and Ostrava Agglomeration

This monograph represents an attempt to provide updated overview and interpretations of initial 15 years of restructuring in traditional industrial areas in Germany (Saxony), Czech Republic (Moravian-Silesian Region) and Poland (Silesian Voivodeship). While these regions share socialist past, transformation processes in East Germany were influenced by matured institutions as well as by relatively sufficient capital resources. In the Czech Republic and Poland transformation of these old industrial regions was conducted in relatively fast way and with insufficient institutional and financial support. Albeit there are substantial differences in territorial statistics of individual countries, the chapters of our monograph follow the same pattern, which comprise rank-territorial perspective of restructuring in the given region (both national and regional levels) and functional dimension of restructuring (including traditional industries, development of new activities as well as communication dimension of restructuring).