Regional economic potential in The Netherlands: Approaches in empirical research, with special reference to small and medium-sized firms

Regional differences in economic development have been a subject of continuing interest for geographers and economists in most European countries during the last three or four decades. The situation in The Netherlands fits this general rule, illustrated by the numerous publications on the subject throughout this period. When measured by European standards, the regional disparities in a small country like The Netherlands are of course not impressive. They are certainly not comparable to the grave contrasts that exist between the northern and southern parts of Italy, or between central and southern France, between south-east England and Northern Ireland, and so on. On a smaller scale, they nevertheless constitute a matter for serious national concern.