The Importance of Quality and Modern Infrastructure in Ensuring Sustainable Regional Development
Keywords:
sustainable development, regional economy, infrastructure, infrastructure quality, smart infrastructure, regional disparities, agglomeration, regional policy, UzbekistanAbstract
Persistent disparities between regions represent one of the most intractable obstacles to balanced national development, and the quality of infrastructure has come to be recognised as a decisive factor in their reduction. This article examines the role of high-quality and modern infrastructure in ensuring the sustainable development of regions. On the basis of a systematic review and comparative analysis of the scholarly and policy literature, the study clarifies the concept of sustainable regional development, proposes a working definition of “quality and modern” infrastructure, and reconstructs the principal channels through which infrastructure influences regional economic, social and environmental outcomes. The results show that infrastructure affects regional development not merely through its physical availability but, more importantly, through its quality dimensions – reliability, accessibility, efficiency, resilience and environmental compatibility – and through the integration of digital and “smart” elements. The analysis identifies agglomeration effects, reductions in transaction and transport costs, and the expansion of access to social services as the main transmission mechanisms, while underinvestment, weak maintenance and uneven spatial distribution are found to be the principal barriers. The article concludes that the transition from a quantitative to a qualitative understanding of infrastructure is essential for sustainable regional development, with particular relevance for the regional policy of Uzbekistan.
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