Regional disparities, European integration, Development, Regional policy
Abstract
This paper analyzes regional inequalities in the EU-15 member states. It employs GDP per capita figures at the NUTS II and NUTS III level in order to estimate the weighted coefficient of variation and the max/min ratio for each country. With the use of statistical and diagrammatic methods it evaluates the evolution of inequalities over time at various spatial levels of aggregation. Then it explores the relation of inequalities to business cycles and the process of economic integration. The findings of the paper are used to evaluate the regional and structural policies of the EU.
