definition
strict definition
development region
A grouping of counties used for regional planning and statistics, without a government of its own.
A development region is a group of counties combined for planning and for the allocation of regional funds. Romania's eight regions are the clearest example, created to match the European statistical tiers.
It has no elected council and no administrative authority. The counties inside it keep their governments and the region exists as a frame for measurement and funding.
Because it was built to fit a statistical classification, its boundary follows county lines exactly and changes only when the classification does.