PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES OF THE PORTUGUESE NUTS III REGIONS: EVOLUTION ANALYSIS OF LOCATION AND REGIONAL SPECIALIZATION

Abstract

This paper presents the exploratory phase of a study on the evolution of regional production locations and the contribution of the specialization profile to the growth of regions and looks for a rationale for policies aimed at reducing regional disparities, on a path of sustainable development. Specifically, its objective is to analyse the evolution of the location of production activities and of the specialization of Portuguese NUTS III regions in the last fifteen years and to deepen the study of spacial and temporal relationship between specialization, productivity and development. This analysis will be performed based on data from 1996 to 2010, related to regional activity split into 10 sectors, from which indicators were calculated for the location and specialization. This exploratory study finishes with the analysis of the relationship between sectorial specialization and regional development.