www.business-review.eu Business Review | April May 2016 2020
MACROECONOMY COVER STORY 14 7
Romania’s cities in fierce competition to attract money and souls Romania’s major cities are developing at a fast pace and they traditionally bet on their historical, urban, and human qualities in order to develop. But the asset that could really help them become relevant at the European level may lie elsewhere: in their ability to attract talents from within the country as well as from abroad through the professional opportunities and quality of life they offer. By Sorin Melenciuc just on pure market dynamics,” World Bank experts note.
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES However, the development of Romanian cities depends on historical, urban and political factors – just like it does everywhere else. Despite its huge financial resources and high earnings, Bucharest is affected by poor public management, incompetence, and stunning corruption. In some cities in Transylvania, where urban life emerged earlier and was historically more developed and sophisticated, the qual-
R
The future development of major secondary cities is a key factor in the advancement of the whole country
ity of life is much higher and the situation improves every year, with the help of EU funds. Cities like Cluj, Sibiu, Oradea or Timisoara
omania currently has one metropolis,
try’s gross domestic product (GDP). Experts
are attracting people and developing, while
Bucharest, three major secondary
point out that these are some of Romania’s
cities in other parts of the country are offering
cities – Cluj, Timisoara, and Iasi – and
main economic growth engines, and Romania
low quality of life and little hope to their resi-
several other tertiary cities that have the
in this respect is no different from other EU
dents. This could be a key factor in develop-
potential to become secondary urban centres
countries. With the exception of Bucharest,
ment and in attracting more people. “The
in the future: Constanta, Brasov, Craiova,
which has a national reach, and maybe with
most dynamic cities have attracted labour
Oradea, Galati/Braila, Sibiu, Bacau, Ploiesti,
the exception of Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, and
force from quite a distance, and localities with
Pitesti, and Arad.
Iasi, which manage to attract people from
a more mobile population have tended to be
other urban centres, most functional urban
more developed than those with a less mobile
KEY DEVELOPMENT FACTOR
areas in Romania have a limited reach. This
population. In essence, development spills
The future development of these cities is a
means that they primarily attract migrants
over from the most dynamic cities to the sur-
key factor in the advancement of the whole
and commuters from nearby areas, so the
rounding areas, and this is a core aspect of the
country, experts say. “Without strong cities,
qualifications of their migrants and commut-
development process,” the study indicates.
one cannot have strong regions and a strong
ers are usually not better than the general
The key issue of this year’s local elections,
national economy,” according to the “Magnet
qualifications of the people in the region.
which seems more visible than it has been in
“All things being equal, it is likely that Bu-
prior elections, is quality of life. People have
nia” report recently released by the World
charest will remain the most attractive place
been noticing differences and those in cities
Bank, the most comprehensive study of
for migrants in the future. (…) Cluj-Napoca
offering low quality of life tend to start asking
Romania’s urban areas published so far.
and Timisoara are likely to be runners-up to
for improvements. Meanwhile, people living
The study found that the eight largest cities
fill the secondary city gap, so they are likely to
in large urban areas are seeking good jobs, but
in Romania – Bucharest, Cluj, Timisoara, Iasi,
become very attractive places for migrants in
they also highly appreciate the better educa-
Constanta, Brasov, Craiova, and Ploiesti –
the future. Whether these two cities manage
tion and health services, decent infrastruc-
amass around 22 percent of the population
to keep their leadership positions also de-
ture, lower pollution, and large parks and
and generate around 53 percent of the coun-
pends on how well they are managed, and not
entertainment areas.
Cities: Migration and Commuting in Roma-
