Disparities and territorial discontinuities in France with its new regions: A multiscalar and multidimensional interpretation

Abstract

[eng] Since 1 January 2016, the 22 French metropolitan regions have merged to form 13 new regions. The deployment of public policies in these regions with enhanced areas of jurisdiction leads us to wonder about the way in which the merger leads to the reduction of territorial disparities or not. We analyse these disparities using five sociodemographic indicators. Several geographical levels are mobilised : the European Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) and the French employment zones. The main characteristics of the new regions in a national and European context are highlighted using statistical and spatial data analysis methods. Inter-regional contrasts are relatively low in France, in comparison with those prevailing in other European States. The main discontinuities are found between countries rather than between regions within a country. At the national level, some merged regions appear relatively homogeneous (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Bourgogne-Franche-Comte and Normandie) compared to others more contrasted (Hauts-de-France, Occitanie, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes and Grand Est). The main territorial discontinuities are observed within the same regions and not between them.