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Lopez-Rodriguez J., Faina J. A. and Lopez-Rodriguez J. (2007) Human capital accumulation and geography: empirical evidence from the European Union. Regional Studies 41, 217-234. This paper evaluates the role that geography plays in determining the spatial distribution of educational attainment levels among European Union regions, based on an extension of the standard two-sector (agriculture and manufacturing) Fujita et al. (1999) economic geography model. The present paper provides evidence that, in the European Union, educational attainment levels are higher in those regions with greater market access. This finding corroborates the theoretical predictions of the model and proves that remoteness is a penalty for the economic development and convergence of the European Union regions. Lopez-Rodriguez J., Faina J. A. et Lopez-Rodriguez J. (2007) L'accroissement du capital humain et la geographie: des preuves empiriques de l'Union europeenne. Regional Studies 41, 217-234. A partir d'une extension du modele economico-geographique type a deux secteurs (a savoir l'agriculture et l'industrie manufacturiere) d'apres Fujita et al. (1999), cet article cherche a evaluer le role que joue la geographie dans la determination de la distribution geographique du niveau scolaire a travers les regions de l'Union europeenne. Il en resulte que, au sein de l'Union europeenne, le niveau scolaire est superieur dans les regions ou l'acces au marche est plus facile. Ces resultats confirment les previsions theoriques du modele et prouvent que l'isolement penalise le developpement economique et la convergence des regions de l'Union europeenne. Developpement economique Geographie economique Structure geographique Capital humain Acces au marche Lopez-Rodriguez J., Faina J. A. und Lopez-Rodriguez J. (2007) Konzentration von Humankapital und Geografie: empirische Belege in der Europaischen Union. Regional Studies 41, 217-234. In diesem Beitrag wird untersucht, welche Rolle die Geografie bei der Pragung der raumlichen Verteilung hinsichtlich der Erzielung von Bildungsabschlussen innerhalb der Regionen der Europaischen Union spielt, ausgehend von einer Erweiterung des wirtschaftsgeografischen Standardmodells mit zwei Sektoren (Landwirtschaft und Produktion) nach Fujita et al. (1999). Wir liefern Belege dafur, dass das Niveau der Bildungsabschlusse innerhalb der Europaischen Union in Regionen mit starkerem Marktzugang hoher ausfallt. Dieses Ergebnis bestatigt die theoretischen Prognosen des Modells und beweist, dass eine abgelegene Lage ein Hindernis bei der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung und Konvergenz der EU-Regionen darstellt. Wirtschaftsentwicklung Wirtschaftsgeografie Raumliche Struktur Humankapital Marktzugang Lopez-Rodriguez J., Faina J. A. y Lopez-Rodriguez J. (2007) La acumulacion de capital humano y la geografia: prueba empirica en la Union Europea. Regional Studies 41, 217-234. En este ensayo analizamos el papel que desempena la geografia a la hora de determinar la distribucion espacial de los niveles de educacion entre las regiones de la ...

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This paper looks at the link between wage disparities and market access for the Romanian regions. First, we derive an econometric specification which relates the income levels of a particular location with a weighted sum of the volume of economic activities of the surrounding locations (market access). Then, empirically, we estimate this econometric specification for a sample of 42 Romanian regions in the year 2006. The results show that market access is statistically significant and quantitatively important in explaining cross‐county variation in Romanian wages. Moreover, our results are robust to the inclusion of control variables thought to be important in explaining Romanian wages as it is the case with human capital and innovation levels. After controlling for these variables, market access remains still positive and statistically significant although its influence on wages decreases around 25 per cent. Finally some policy conclusions are also drawn.

This study evaluates the role that market access plays in determining the spatial distribution of educational attainment levels among EU regions. Evidence is provided showing that in the EU educational attainment levels are higher in those regions with greater market access. This finding proves that remoteness is a penalty for the economic development and convergence of the European Union regions.