The economic, legislative and social characteristics of sustainable development in Bucharest metropolitan area

• Journal: Global Academic Society Journal: Social Science Insight, Vol. 1, No. 5, year 2008, pp. 26-43.
• Author(s): Tuclea Elena Claudia, Gabriela Tigu, Delia Popescu
• Category: Social Science Insight III
• Keywords: city, metropolitan area, migration, periurban, territory arrangement, urban policy, urban space, urbanism, Bucharest sustainable development

Abstract

Bucharest has significantly evolved from a small village to the metropolitan area it is today. Is Bucharest ready to assume its role as a metropolis? Which are the economic and social developmental aspects of the previously mentioned area? Is Bucharest able to develop itself as a metropolis in a sustainable way? These are a few questions to be answered in our study, being given the novelty and importance of this matter in Romania.
Bucharest experienced an urban expansion in the 20th century when it was recorded a spectacular increase in population (about 2 000 000 nowadays). The first step of the urbanization process is related to the migration of rural population toward the industrial centre, creating a process of growth and urban concentration.
After 1990, Bucharest’s urbanization process enters its second phase, suburbanization, process which essentially reflects the “ex-urbanization” trend.
We are now witnessing at a spontaneous development of the metropolitan area. This type of growth needs a very well designed intervention to correct the potential negative effects and to optimize the process, aiming a better quality of life for inhabitants.