Public financial support to investments in rural areas : The case of the region of Thessaly in Greece

Part of : International journal of economic sciences and applied research ; Vol.6, No.2, (September), pages 81-101

Issue:
Pages:
81-101
Author:
Abstract:
Greek governments have supported investments to rural areas financially either by covering part of the investment and/or offering advantages with respect to interest rate loans or tax advantages. This support had been tendered either by nationally financed programs, called Development Laws, or by other programs, mainly financed by the European Union. The financial support depended on the area where the investment took place, as well as the sector and the nature of the investment. Additionally, another program, the LEADER initiative, was developed. It was financed mainly by the European Union, in order to support investments in rural areas and promote the development and the structural adaptation of the less developed European regions. This paper examines public financial support for investments in rural areas in the case of the region of Thessaly, one of the 13 regions in Greece. Its aim is to point out the importance of investments in the sectors of tourism, industry and agriculture. The region of Thessaly presents obvious interest because of the development of these sectors at different levels, depending on local production characteristics. The time period is the 2000s, when important investments were undertaken in the region, supported financially by Development Laws and the LEADER initiative.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
financial support, investments, rural areas, Thessaly, Greece
Notes:
JEL Classification: G32, H54, R51
References (1):
  1. Aldonat Beyzatlar, M. and Kustepeli, Y., 2011, ‘Infrastructure, Economic Growth and Population Density in Turkey’, International Journal of Economic Sciences and Applied Research, 4, 3, pp. 39-57. Arvanitis, S., Tzigkounaki, I., Stamatopoulos, T. and Thalassinos, E., 2012, ‘Dynamic Approach of Capital Structure of European Shipping Companies’, International Journal of Economic Sciences and Applied Research, 5, 3, pp. 33-63. Bairamli, N. and Kostoglou, V., 2010, ‘The Role of Savings in the Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan’, International Journal of Economic Sciences and Applied Research, 3, 2, pp. 99-110. Bank of Greece, 2011, Monetary and banking Statistics, http://www.bankofgreece.gr/Pages /el/Statistics/monetary/deposits.aspx, (accessed 20/9/2011). Bontron, J-C., 2003, ‘France-Belgium-Wallonian’, Todtling-Schonhofer, H., Ex-post Evaluation of The Community Initiative LEADER, Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning, Vienna, pp. 271-304. Chatzitheodoridis, F., Michailidis, A., Tsilohristos, D. and Kazaki, S., 2006, ‘Integrated Development Programs of Rural Area in Greece: An Empirical Approach to Management in Practice and the Results’, Aeixoros, 8, pp. 58-90, (in Greek). Development Agency of Elassona-Kissavos, 2011, Results of local LEADER + initiative, letter to author, October. Development Agency of Karditsa, 2011, Results of local LEADER + initiative, letter to author, October. Development Centre of Kalampaka – Pyli, 2011, Results of local LEADER + initiative, letter to author, October. Efstratoglou, S. and Mavridou, S., 2003, ‘Geographical Report Greece’, Todtling- Schonhofer, H., Ex-post Evaluation of The Community initiative LEADER, Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning, Vienna, pp. 305-325. Emmanouel G. and Papadopoulou D., 2004, The European programs and their policies, Papazisis, Athens, (in Greek). Epilogi 2010, Nomoi, Annual Report for 2009, (in Greek). European Commission, 2000, Commission Notice to the Member States: Laying down guidelines for the Community initiative for rural development (Leader+), Official Journal of the European Communities C 139/5. General Secretariat for Investments and Development, Directorate General for Private Investments, 2011, Investments of laws 2601/98, 3299/04, 3522/06 in Thessaly, Communication with the author. Gstraunthaler, T., Lukacs, J. and Steller, M., 2008, ‘The Board of Directors and its Role in the Corporate Governance System - Considerations about the Control Model - A Research Note’, International Journal of Economic Sciences and Applied Research, 1, 1, pp. 37-54. Hellenic Statistical Authority, 2008, ‘Regional Accounts, 2000-2005’, Hellenic Statistical Authority, Piraeus. Hellenic Statistical Authority, 2010, ‘Regional Accounts, 2002-2007’, Hellenic Statistical Authority, Piraeus. Hellenic Statistic Authority, 2011, Announcement of temporary results of the population census of 2011, Hellenic Statistic Authority, Piraeus. Journal of Government, 1998, Law for the development, no A 81, (in Greek). Journal of Government, 2004, Law 3299/2004 Incentives for private investment for economic development and regional convergence, Issue A, No 261, (in Greek). Journal of Government, 2006, Law 3522/2006, Changes in income tax, simplifications in the code books and records and other provisions, Issue A, No 276, (in Greek). Karafolas, S., 2007, ‘Investments through the LEADER II program in the region of West Macedonia, Greece: a comparison to investments under the development laws 1892/1990 and 2601/1998’, 47th European Congress of the European Regional Science Association, ‘Local governance and sustainable development’, Paris, http://sadapt.inapg.inra.fr/ersa2007/papers/146.RTF, (accessed 20/9/2011). Karafolas, S., 2007a, ‘Wine roads in Greece: a cooperation for the development of local tourism in rural areas’, Journal of Rural Cooperation, 35, 1, pp. 71-90. Karafolas, S., 2009, Public aid on financing the infrastructure for the rural areas, the LEADER + initiative in Greece, ERSA Conference, Territorial Cohesion of Europe and Integrative Planning, Lodz, Poland. Larissa Prefecture Development Company, 2012, ‘LEADER + Initiative’, http://www. aenol.gr/leader/topiko-programma-leader, (accessed 2/9/2012), (in Greek). Loizou, E., Chatzitheodoridis, F., Mattas, K., Polymeros, K., 2010, Fisheries Policies Impacts Consideration Towards the Development of Rural Coastal Areas, Proceedings of the 118th Seminar of E.A.A.E. ‘Rural Development: Governance, Policy Design and Delivery’, Ljubljana, Slovenia, pp. 281-295. McDowell, R., 2003. ‘United Kingdom’ Todtling-Schonhofer, H., Ex-post Evaluation of The Community Initiative LEADER, Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning, Vienna, pp. 445-464. Miloš Sprčić, D., Tekavčič, M. and Šević, Z., 2008, ‘A Review of the Rationales for Corporate Risk Management: Fashion or the Need?’, International Journal of Economic Sciences and Applied Research, 1, 1, pp. 71-99. Ministry of Regional Development and Competitiveness, 2012, ‘Explanatory report to the draft law «Enhancing private investment for economic growth entrepreneurship and regional cohesion»’, (in Greek). Ministry of Rural Development and Foods of Greece and European Union, 2006. ‘LEADER+ Initiative, 5th revision’, (in Greek). National Statistic Service of Greece, 2008, Regional Accounts, Data 200-2005, Piraeus, General Secretariat of the National Statistical Service of Greece. Papadogonas, T. and Voulgaris, F., 2010, ‘Euro and Technology Effects on Job Turnover in Greek Manufacturing’, International Journal of Economic Sciences and Applied Research, 3, 1, pp. 27-38. PASEGES, 2011, The situation of the agriculture sector, Editions PASEGES, Athens. Patronis, V., 1999. ‘State and Cooperatives in the post-dictatorial period (1974-1998)’, in the 7th Congress of the Sakis Karagiorgas Foundation, Panteion University, 21-24 April (in Greek). Region of Thessaly, Direction of Development Planning, 2012, Approved investments under the development laws, letter to author, March. Region of Thessaly, 2000, Synopsis of the Master Plan / Business Plan on the promotion of products and services of the region of Thessaly, Larisa (in Greek), www.thessalia.gr/ PEP/uploads/material/Masterplan_sinopsis.pdf, (accessed 2/9/2012). Region of Thessaly, 2003, Diagnostic report for the promotion of the innovation of agriculture products and foods of the region of Thessaly, Larisa, (in Grrek). Salima Djedidi Kooli, S., 2012, ‘Distances and Small Business Credit Constraints: The French case’, International Journal of Economic Sciences and Applied Research, 5, 3, pp. 81-114. Shuksmith, M., 2000, ‘Endogenous development, social capital and social inclusion: perspectives from LEADER in the UK’, Sociologia Ruralis, 40, 2, pp. 208-218. Silva, A., 2011, ‘Financial constraints and exports: evidence from Portuguese manufacturing firms’, International Journal of Economic Sciences and Applied Research, 4, 3, pp. 7-19. Vlachvei, A. and Notta, O., 2009, ‘Wine Routes in Greece: Producers’ Perceptions and Economic Implications’, International Journal of Arts and Sciences, 3, 2, pp. 95-106. Wikipedia, 2011, Thessaly, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thessaly, (accessed 15/10/2011), (in Greek).