Intermediate Cities and Local Governments: Scalar Gaps in the Region of La Araucanía, Chile

Abstract

Local governments of intermediate cities face significant challenges given the interactions they hold with surrounding areas, as well as with other cities. This work is an approach to such challenges, from two conceptual frameworks. On the one hand, the intermediation processes, and on the other hand, the scale. The methodological focus has a qualitative approach, based on mobile methodologies, which is complemented with a quantitative commuting assessment. The results show that local governments from the main intermediation nodes in the Region of La Araucanía, face problems related with intermediation process, specifically with urban sprawl and roadways. Furthermore, local governments underestimate indigenous dynamics over the cities, which are key for the specific context. The results allow us to conclude that the scalar gap is a key problem for local governments of intermediate cities, which must be resolved to improve planning processes and enhance local sustainability of such cities.