Regional inequalities in the EU new member-states

Authors

  • Γιώργος Κ. Πετράκος
  • Γιάννης Ψυχάρης
  • Δημήτρης Καλλιώρας

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26266/jtovol22pp155-177

Keywords:

Regional disparities, European Union, Economic development

Abstract

The issue of the unequal spatial distribution of economic activities and income, as well as its economic, social and political implications, is again at the forefront of the scientific debate having, largely, as a cause the EU eastward enlargement. The positive correlation between economic integration and regional inequalities in the historic route and evolution of the EU, despite the long-run implementation of regional policy, causes questions and thoughts relating with EU new member-states' ability to adjust in the Single European Market environment. The article analyses the EU new member-states' regional characteristics, through static and dynamic analysis with the use of a series of convergence and agglomeration indices, in NUTS II and NUTS III spatial levels, for the period 1995-2000. The period of analysis, although snail in its duration, is extremely important since it includes recent trends, independent from the shocks of the first period of transition, and provides the potentiality of configuring a basic picture concerning those countries' patterns of regional development and inequalities and their prospects for converging, in the EU-27 framework. Despite the fact that political borders ceased to exist, the economic partitions in the EU new member-states' context still remain. A series of question needs to be answered. What was the impact of this historic transition, from the central planning system to the market economy, on spatial balance? Is the acceptance of the western type of economic operation followed by an increase in the level of regional inequalities? How important is this increase and in which countries? Which are the expectations for the future? Which is the impact on the EU regional policies? The results of the present empirical analysis are going to have serious implications for the planning of the future regional policies on behalf of the EU in an effort to achieve economic and social cohesion in the new economic environment.

Published

2015-10-16

Issue

Section

Articles