FOREWORD

This is the ninth edition of the Conference on Regional Science of Castilla y León. In previous editions we have dealt with topics such as the Demographic challenge, the Instruments for inter-territorial solidarity, the Decentralized provision of public services, Services to regional production and development, ...

In the eight previous editions we have placed special emphasis on how these issues affect the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León. Being aware that we live in a world in which it is increasingly necessary to think globally and act locally, on this occasion we intend to open the congress to the various issues that may affect regional development, without limiting ourselves to any specific territorial area.

The objective of this congress is not different from those established by the Spanish Association of Regional Science, among which it is worth highlighting the promotion of research projects in Regional Science, the dissemination of the results of such projects, as well as facilitating relations and exchanges among researchers in this discipline, always from the multidisciplinary vision that has characterized this Association.

Due to the current restrictions and the uncertainty of the pandemic situation that we are suffering, the conference will be held online, as to facilitate the maximum participation of both Spanish and foreign researchers, with special attention to those who study these issues in Latin America.

Nevertheless, if circumstances allow, two face-to-face plenary conferences will be held at the University of León, which will be publicly live stream or, at least, for all those registered in the congress.

From the Association of Regional Science of Castilla y León, and from the University of León, we invite and encourage you to participate in this Conference, whose Proceedings will include all the papers defended during the conference sessions and will be published.