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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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    More about this item

    Keywords

    urban versus rural community; geo-economic perspective; place of residence; workplace; Slovakia;
    All these keywords.

    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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