The Restructuring of Old Industrial Regions in Europe: Experience and Problems

The experience of European countries in restructuring the economy of old industrial regions (OIRs) is analyzed. Evolution of the main theoretical approaches of Russian and foreign scientists to defining the essence of OIRs is traced. The criteria for including areas in the category of OIRs are established. The causes and prerequisites of the emergence of regional policy on economic restructuring of old industrial regions are pinpointed. The authors highlight the key stages of the regional policy in Europe as one of the initiators of economic restructuring of QIRs in the period of 1960-2000. Old industrial regions restructuring is examined using the case study of Greater Manchester. The main stages and key characteristics of the restructuring process of the Greater Manchester economy are analyzed. The fundamental principles of the regional policy on OIRs restructuring in Western Europe are formulated.