THE ROLE OF SPATIAL PLANNING IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND REALISATION OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE FOR SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF LATGALE REGION

Abstract

A competitive advantage has been one of the most important issues in national and regional policy documents in the last decade. Regional policy attempted to make regions more competitive by attracting internationally competitive firms, however with partial success. The search for a new approach to regional development is now mainly focused on making domestic firms more competitive. This has led to an emphasis on regional ‘‘assets” as the source of firm competitive capacity, not only physical infrastructure but also other ‘‘soft” or less tangible factors. Regional competitiveness is a key theme in national territorial reviews, in work on urban policy and spatial planning. As a major regional issue to increase competitiveness, which is analysed in spatial planning documents is accessibility, spatial diversity, open space and quality of urban vitality.