Regional Dynamics of Innovation in Europe 2000-2020 A Tale of Convergence, Persistence, and the Illusion of Catch-Up

Korneliusz Pylak (), Michael Fritsch () and Michael Wyrwich ()
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Korneliusz Pylak: Lublin University of Technology, Lublin, Poland
Michael Wyrwich: University of Groningen, The Netherlands, and Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany

No 2026-011, Jena Economics Research Papers from Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

Abstract: This study examines the dynamics of regional innovation activity in Europe from 2000 to 2020 using patent applications. Standard convergence measures indicate that regional disparities are narrowing, with initially lagging regions catching up to the leading ones. Our analysis reveals two persistent ‘clubs’: the ‘lagging’ and the ‘advanced’ regions. Although these groups are becoming increasingly similar, the differences between them remain largely unchanged. Despite two decades of growth, the disparity between the two clubs still accounts for a great deal of the total variation in regional patenting. These patterns suggest a convergence illusion that is overlooked in the current scholarly debate.

Keywords: regional innovation; convergence; convergence clubs; European regions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O31 O47 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-09-28
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eec, nep-ent, nep-eur, nep-geo, nep-ino, nep-sbm, nep-tid and nep-tra
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