Does European cohesion policy reduce regional disparities? An empirical analysis

Joeri Gorter and Sjef Ederveen

No 15, CPB Discussion Paper from CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis

Abstract: European cohesion policy entails predominantly the funding of infrastructure and employment projects in lagging regions of EU Member States. It involves the distribution of more than 35 billion euro annually, making it the second most important EU policy in budgetary terms. Its main aim is to reduce regional disparities in regional welfare. This paper investigates to what extent European cohesion policy achieves this aim. The data reveal poorer regions do tend to receive more cohesion support. The policy thus satisfies a necessary condition for its effectiveness. It remains, however, unclear whether cohesion support significantly increases economic growth. In particular, the more independent convergence one presupposes, the less well cohesion support appears to work. This points at a clear trade-off: either one accepts that regional disparities are here to stay, or one concludes that cohesion policy fails.

JEL-codes: O18 O40 O52 R11 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2002-10
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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