ECONOMIC CONVERGENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF OVERCOMING THE INTRA-REGIONAL DISPARTIES IN BULGARIA

Abstract

The economic regional cohesion between the regional centers in Bulgaria is of utmost importance given the differences in the economic activity of the population and the business on the one hand. On the other hand, disproportion in terms of factors of production (resources, labor force, technical and transport infrastructure, innovation) and, above all, their unequal position in quantitative and qualitative terms. This publication aims to highlight the major issues that these disproportions are due to, and to provide recommendations for their overcoming in the future. The main flight problems relate mainly to the development of large cities. This determines Sofia as the leader in the highest share of the gross domestic product of the country. In addition, the development of the top ten big cities in Bulgaria creates conditions for the strengthening of the centerperiphery problems. Inter-regional and intra-regional inequalities and differences can also be highlighted in this connection.