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The Urban/Rural Community Divide Based on a Geo-Economic Perspective: An Analysis of Work Contracts in Slovakia

Author

Listed:
  • COLE DAVID

    (Faculty of Economics, Matej Bel University, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia)

  • SVIDROŇOVÁ MÁRIA MURRAY

    (Faculty of Economics, Matej Bel University, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia)

  • GUBALOVÁ JOLANA

    (Faculty of Economics, Matej Bel University, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia)

  • STRNÁDOVÁ PETRA

    (Faculty of Economics, Matej Bel University, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia)

Abstract

The study analyses over 1.5 million entries from the Slovak Social Insurance Company dataset for 2022. The records of work contracts for insured individuals are categorised by age, type of insurance, place of residence, and workplace, based on ZIP codes. By using ZIP codes, we were able to assess the connectivity of rural areas to workplaces, with a particular focus on the rural-urban divide. This approach highlights a geo-economic perspective in distinguishing urban and rural areas. Our analysis has revealed that most rural residents maintain strong urban economic connections, even extending to the capital city. Economically, only 26.6% of rural ZIP codes have more than 50% of their work contracts based within rural areas. Thus, we conclude that the term ‘rural’ carries more aesthetic than economic significance.

Suggested Citation

  • Cole David & Svidroňová Mária Murray & Gubalová Jolana & Strnádová Petra, 2025. "The Urban/Rural Community Divide Based on a Geo-Economic Perspective: An Analysis of Work Contracts in Slovakia," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 44(2), pages 137-147.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:quageo:v:44:y:2025:i:2:p:137-147:n:1008
    DOI: 10.14746/quageo-2025-0019
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Janetta Nestorová Dická & Alena Gessert & Ivo Sninčák, 2019. "Rural and non-rural municipalities in the Slovak Republic," Journal of Maps, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 84-93, January.
    2. David Cole & Mária Murray Svidroňová, 2021. "Are small towns doomed to decline? The case of a post-socialist CEE country," Post-Communist Economies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(8), pages 1012-1034, November.
    3. Martin Boďa & David Cole & Mária Murray Svidroňová & Jolana Gubalová, 2022. "Prevailing narratives versus reality of a small and medium town decline in a CEE country," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 3113-3145, July.
    4. Jean Hardy, 2024. "Transforming the rural asset: Advancing rural place through cultural assets in the American High-Tech Economy," Community Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(6), pages 823-841, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • P25 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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