Márton Pécsi · 1989
Márton Pécsi describes the aims, compilation and contents of the National Atlas of Hungary (1989), designed to depict the country’s natural, social and economic resources in the early 1980s and changes over the preceding two decades. It combines more than a century of research and mapping with explanatory texts; hundreds of specialists from over fifty institutions participated. Its 273 map pages contain 603 standalone maps, supplemented by inset maps, diagrams, satellite and aerial images, and a map of all settlements. Most mapped data end in the mid-1980s, with some groups relying on the 1980 census; explanatory texts sometimes include 1988 figures. Pécsi explains that statistical gaps and differing reporting units constrained coverage, map scales and chapter lengths.
The account surveys physical resources, environmental protection, population, settlements, housing, public services, industry and agriculture. Pécsi identifies environmental-protection mapping as a new component and discusses water pollution, population decline and ageing, rural disadvantage, and uneven infrastructure and services. His extended treatment of industry examines its spatial structure, centralization, ageing equipment and delayed adjustment to world economic changes. The agricultural discussion covers production resources and regional patterns, cooperation between large farms and household producers under the reforms, and growing difficulties associated with costs, reduced support and export conditions.
Márton Pécsi · 1990
Márton Pécsi describes the aims, preparation and contents of the new National Atlas of Hungary: 603 maps on 273 pages in 19 chapters, accompanied by charts, tables and explanatory notes. It sought to portray Hungary’s natural and socioeconomic resources and national assets in the early 1980s and assess changes over the preceding two decades, including reforms begun in the late 1960s. Compilation combined accumulated scientific research, surveying and thematic mapping with the 1980 census and production data for 1984–1985; explanatory texts also used information from 1988. Data gaps limited coverage of subjects such as the “second economy.” Collection, processing, cartographic design, supervision and printing took several years. An appeal by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences president in 1983 secured support from twelve ministries and other bodies; several hundred experts from more than fifty institutions participated, and Institute of British Geographers experts reviewed the English texts and legends. Pécsi surveys natural resources and hazards, newly included environmental protection maps, population and settlements, housing, health, education, industry, agriculture and productive infrastructure. He highlights water pollution and shortages, population decline, unequal access to village services, and shortcomings in housing and social provision. His economic discussion criticizes industrial investment priorities and slow adjustment to world-market changes, describes cooperation between household and large-scale farms and subsequent agricultural difficulties, and examines transport, telecommunications, trade and tourism. Most maps record mid-1980s conditions; others evaluate processes, with fewer devoted to forecasting.
Károly Kocsis; Zsombor Nemerkényi; László Zentai; Gábor Gercsák · 2019
In their historical account, the editors describe the 1989 National Atlas of Hungary as a six-year undertaking led by Márton Pécsi, involving 87 institutions and organizations and 183 authors and editors. The Hungarian–English volume contained 395 pages and 763 maps, mostly at scales of 1:1 million to 1:2 million. Explanatory text expanded from eight pages in the 1967 edition to one hundred pages. The authors identify socialist regional planning as its principal function: approximately 60% of the maps concerned the national economy. They also note that the atlas included criticism of socialist industrialization, agricultural policy and regional economics as access to information eased in the late 1980s. Most maps remained confined to Hungary’s state boundaries. The account dates the five supplementary booklets to 1994–1995 and connects them to post-1989 social and economic changes and the 1990 census. It describes a shift toward public and educational use, problem-oriented themes such as migration, elections and environmental conflicts, and digital map production.
