Regional disparities in the European Union and the enlargement process: an exploratory spatial data analysis, 1995–2000

Abstract

published on line<br />JEL Classification O18 - O47 - O52 - R11 - R12<br />A previous version of this paper was presented at the 3rd Spatial Econometrics Workshop in Strasbourg, June 9, 2004 and at the XLth Conference of the French Speaking Regional Science Association, Brussels, September 1–3, 2004International audienceThe aim of this paper is to study the space–time dynamics of European regional per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in the perspective of the enlargement of the European Union using exploratory spatial data analysis. We find strong evidence of global and local spatial autocorrelation as well as spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of regional per capita GDP in a sample of 258 European regions including regions from acceding and candidate European countries over the period 1995–2000. However, contrary to previous results obtained in the literature highlighting a North–South polarization scheme, the enlargement process leads to a new North–West–East polarization scheme. The economic dynamism of EU15 regions and acceding or candidate regions is also investigated by exploring the spatial pattern of regional growth. Implications for regional development and cohesion policies are finally suggested

TFP Convergence Across European Regions: A Comparative Spatial Dynamics Analysis

“…In particular, we find that the strength of the positive association for HH regions somewhat faints along time since the quota of such regions goes from 37% to 26% while, 23 It is interesting to note that a quite similar result is obtained by Ertur and Koch (2006) in their analysis of income per capita across EU15 and EU27 regions: in 2000 they find 75% of positive spatial dependence.…”

“…This evidence is usually explained by differences in human capital stocks, as firstly suggested by Nelson and Phelps (1966), and/or by institutional quality heterogeneity, (Hall and Jones, 1999;Acemoglu et al, 2001and 2006, Comin et al, 2009, and/or by the existence of monopoly rights of various forms that create a barrier to technology adoption, as in Parente and Prescott (1999). However, more puzzling is the evidence that slow processes of technology adoption are observed even across similar leading countries of the world economy (Comin andHobijn, 2004 andComin et al 2006) or across regions within the same country or within union of states (see Magrini, 2004, for a review).…”

“…We, therefore, accept the possibility that TFP dynamics can be related to geographical localisation and to phenomena which are dependent on spatial features, such as distance among agents. Following Ertur and Koch (2006) and , we investigate directly these geographical features which may prove crucial in the catching up process and the diffusion of technology. In particular, we focus on geographical distance which can influence some channels of communications, such as trade, externalities and knowledge circulation, between the origin and the destination regions.…”

European Integration and Inequality among Countries: A Lifecycle Income Analysis

“…Quah 1996) and only sometimes directly linked with the process of European integration (e.g. Ertur, Koch 2006). Finally, in a third group of studies, long term economic growth and the convergence of the countries of Europe considered as countries is habitually subsumed in wider collectives such as the OECD or the world as a whole (e.g.…”

“…Thus, a first group of studies are dedicated to analyzing the evolution of the economies in the fulfilment of the criteria for forming part of the Euro area (e.g. Guldager 1997 and Cappelen et al 2003 andErtur andKoch 2006). Another group of studies analyze convergence at regional level, rather than country level (e.g.…”