Theoretical approaches of regional development

This article is a theoretical review regarding to specialised literature of regional development, trying to provide an answers to a general and actual question of cohesion policy: why some regions develop more swiftly than the others? The answers are given preponderantly by the regional economic science, which was supported during its development by other sciences (mathematics, geography, sociology, etc.). The regional theories and policies had changes in the last time in their attempt to meet the new challenges triggered by the expansion of the European Community. Currently, concepts such as endogenous development are already “exiled” by the new theoretic approaches, which are more complex and sophisticated, using notions such as knowledge regions (those regions able to develop based on own resources and adapt to the new competitiveness conditions imposed by globalisation). From this perspective, the new trends of regional policy, after 1990, were focused on regional networks (clusters) and innovation, without losing from sight the development and potential specifics and differences of each area.