relation: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/4788/
title: Isolation as a blessing, Empirical research on the accessibility of Groningen and its economic prosperity
creator: Bloembergen, Steijn
description: Accessibility can be a factor that influences the economic development of places. This research focused on how the accessibility of Groningen, the biggest city in the northern Netherlands affects its economic prosperity. Groningen is by itself quite isolated from greater urban areas but facilitates a hub-function for the region.   The main research question for this research was: How does the accessibility of Groningen influences its economic prosperity? This research question was answered by conducting a qualitative research on determinants of accessibility and economic prosperity. Before conducting the actual research, the researcher conducted a literature review. After analyzing the interviews, a direct relationship between transport infrastructure and economic development was discovered. The presence of transport infrastructure makes the process of doing transactions between people and businesses possible. An example from Groningen is the construction of the Europapark area. Where transport infrastructure facilitates employees of offices and public services resulting in a lot of economic activity.     There is no direct relationship between transport infrastructure and innovation, however transport infrastructure does have a fostering effect on innovation. This is due to the fact that transport infrastructure allows the process of matching, learning and sharing happen faster, which is a requirement for innovation. The Zernike area in Groningen is a knowledge cluster in Groningen where transport infrastructure facilitates this process of knowledge sharing.   Finally, we can conclude from the results that the current transport infrastructure in Groningen does exclude certain groups from economic opportunities. These groups are: people with low income, elderly, people with mobility problems and residents of more rural areas.     After taking all things into consideration, the accessibility of Groningen can be improved but its isolation from other major urban areas results in having services and amenities that it wouldn’t have had if it was more connected. There are three recommendations for bettering the accessibility of Groningen and therefore improving its economic prosperity. First of all, could the construction of the Lelylijn could improve the overall competitiveness of Groningen, by making it more accessible from places that currently are not connected to the railroad system. This will lead to a bigger consumer and labor market. Secondly, the national government could improve public transport by making it more affordable and accessible for the vulnerable groups that currently miss out on their economic opportunities, due to an inefficient transport network. The last recommendation for improving the accessibility and economic prosperity of Groningen, is investing in more shared mobility options. This will not only reduce the car usage in and around the city but also reduces fossil fuel emissions. By reducing car dependency, less investments in new roads are necessary which can lead to cost savings.
date: 2024
type: Thesis
type: NonPeerReviewed
format: text
language: en
identifier: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/4788/1/Isolation-as-a-blessing-Bloembergen-2024.pdf
identifier:   Bloembergen, Steijn  (2024) Isolation as a blessing, Empirical research on the accessibility of Groningen and its economic prosperity.  Pre-master thesis.