REGIONAL

Regional is an adjective referring to a region, a part of a country or the world, defined by geography, culture, politics, or administration. The term is used to describe things related to or characteristic of a particular area, or to indicate a level of analysis that partitions space into regions rather than treating it as a single unit.

In geography and urban planning, regionalization and regional planning involve dividing a territory into regions to study patterns of population, economy, environment, and infrastructure. Regions may be defined by administrative borders, natural features, or socio-economic criteria. Regional planning aims to coordinate land use, development, and services across municipalities to address regional disparities, promote balanced growth, and improve resilience.

In economics, regional analysis compares performance across regions, examining regional development, labor markets, and specialization. Regional dialects, cuisines, and cultural practices can reflect historical settlement, migration, and interaction among communities within a region. Regional identity often influences politics, branding, and tourism, with regional brands or identities used to market products or destinations.

At broader scales, regional concepts underpin federal systems, regional blocs, and international cooperation, including regional development funds and policy alignment. Statistical agencies use regional classifications (for example, European Union NUTS regions) to collect comparable data. The word regional derives from region, from Latin regio, meaning area or direction.