A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Emerging vacuums of strategic planning: an exploration of reforms in Finnish spatial planning




AuthorsHytönen Jonne, Ahlqvist Toni

PublisherRoutledge

Publication year2019

JournalEuropean Planning Studies

Journal name in sourceEuropean Planning Studies

Volume27

Issue7

First page 1350

Last page1368

Number of pages19

ISSN0965-4313

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2019.1580248(external)


Abstract

The paper offers a theory-based evaluation of the ongoing reforms in the Finnish spatial planning regime. The paper argues that Finnish planning is moving in a reactive and market-driven direction. This development is not being brought about solely through a direct decrease in public discretionary powers in planning, but is also unfolding indirectly through a process of rescaling in the spatial planning regime. These processes increase municipal autonomy in relation to other planning scales, despite problems observed in the municipality-centred market-driven planning orientation. The resulting reduction in manoeuvring room in public planning is conceptualized in the paper as expanding vacuums of strategic planning. Building on concepts from the literature on state transformation theory and scale theory, the paper draws together theoretical and empirical conclusions from several case studies conducted in close-to-administration projects.



Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 13:13