Tendencies of development inequalities of Croatian counties

The research objective is to use the multi-criteria approach in order to analyse and establish the intensity of development disparties in Croatian counties since Croatia’s independence, as well as their development tendencies. According to the basic hypothesis, it is possible to use dynamics analysis and development characteristics of Croatian counties in the past 20 years in order to establish tendencies of regional disparities and the key regional development problems. The meta-analysis method was used in the research because there was a great variety of information. Former development of Croatian counties was analysed in the first step, measured by the range between the minimum and the maximum value of some of the previously used development indicators of Croatian counties. The extent of relative development disparities was established, as well as whether they had been increasing or reducing. The main result of the analysis is evaluation of tendencies and the present development level in individual counties, and the key reasons which had an impact on development. Measures for reduction of development disparities are proposed. A complex multi-criteria regional development analysis conducted in the research shows that, in the period between 1991 and 2009, eleven counties were developing, three were developing at a slower pace, one was stagnating, and six counties lagged behind in development, which is the basic conclusion of the research.