Regional Economic Performance within the European Union

This book examines the extent to which spatial economic convergence has taken place in the European Union and analyses the effectiveness of regional policy.

The authors examine the differing economic features of the European regions and provide an institutional background to regional policy at both the national and Union level. Theories of economic growth are discussed and assessed in terms of the relative performance of regional economies in Europe. The authors then analyse the extent to which economic convergence, for example in terms of income and employment, has materialized across regions using a variety of techniques including mean reversion and time varying parameter procedures. The analysis is both at the level of the entire EU area and at more disaggregate levels that look at specific regions of the Union and at specific sectors. The book offers an assessment of some of the key regional policy instruments used and pays particular attention to the role of infrastructure investment as a tool for enhancing regional growth. It also considers the extent to which some non-regional specific policies impact upon the development of regional economies and explores the implications of closer monetary ties between member states.

This book will be of interest to academics and policymakers concerned with regional science, European studies and macroeconomics.

Kenneth Button, University Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, US and Eric J. Pentecost, Professor of Economics, Loughborough University, UK