Wirtschaftskraft, Einkommen und Beschäftigung klaffen innerhalb der Europäischen Union (EU) weit auseinander - sowohl innerhalb als auch zwischen den Mitgliedsstaaten. Der Abbau dieses Gefälles ist das erklärte politische Ziel auf europäischer wie nationaler Ebene. Obwohl sich die ökonomische Regionalforschung dieses Themas angenommen hat, liegen bislang kaum gesicherte Erkenntnisse darüber vor, inwieweit die Osterweiterung und die ökonomische Integration der EU die Entwicklung der regionalen Disparitäten beeinflussen. Zudem ist weitgehend ungeklärt, inwiefern und warum sich die Beschäftigungsentwicklung in verschiedenen Qualifikationsniveaus regional unterscheidet. Gestützt auf eine breite Datenbasis und ökonometrische Analysen leistet Friso Schlittes Buch einen wichtigen Beitrag, um diese Forschungslücken zu schließen. Publikationssprache: Englisch

This publication gathers the contributions from about 15 young authors and is the result of an event gathering about 30 young Liberal activists on how to tackle regional disparities through growth-based policies.

The last twenty years have seen an increase in European integration and the emergence of the technological revolution. Although tighter integration coupled with technological innovation should facilitate cross-regional convergence, some European regions have managed to jump ahead while others have been left behind. This book examines the regional characteristics that favour growth and analyses the relevance of innovation, socio-economic and structural factors in shaping regional economic disparities. In this book, particular attention is devoted to the EU enlargement towards the East, to its consequences on Europe’s traditional North-South divide, and to the increasing regional disparities in new member states after the transition. It demonstrates the growing importance of innovation and human capital in explaining the increase in income and employment disparities in old EU members, particularly after the 2008 financial crisis. It also shows that for newcomers, regional disparities are essentially linked to socio-economic factors as capital regions approach Western standards, while others - mainly old industrial regions and peripheral ones - lag behind. This book integrates theoretical discussion with empirical evidence and will appeal to regional scientists interested in regional inequalities, and to policy makers concerned with devising effective strategies to tackle regional disparities in Europe.

The introduction of the single currency in the European economic space constitutes without doubt the most visible step towards monetary and economic integration in the EU. Those who boosted the birth of the Common Market in 1957 dreamt that this would one day come about as a logical consequence of the integration process. However, things have gone much more slowly than possibly imagined, although if taken in an adequate historic perspective, it is undeniable that the agreements that have led to European Monetary Union signify a really formidable jump in the process of political and economic integration in Europe. This is something many doubted would ever happen, but which is already a reality, although still in need of a period of consolidation. The most general economic consequences of the EMU have already been analysed in considerable depth. Proof of this is the literature already available. In general, there is coincidence in affirming that the balance of the results expected is clearly positive. Firstly, as a result of the anticipated gains in efficiency, a consequence of reduction of transaction costs associated to the previous existence of different currencies and of the elimination of exchange rate uncertainties.

This work combines the theory and practice of regional economi policy in Europe. Six main topics are covered as follows: theory of regional economic development and policy; regional policy at the national level; regional disparities in the EU - past and present; impact on the integration on regions; regional policy in the EU 1975-1999; the structural funds 2000-2006 and openness to Eastern European countires. The book also includes an up-to-date bibliography on the topics covered.

Addressing regional economic policy in Europe, this volume covers the theory of regional economic development and policy; regional policy at the national level; past and present regional disparities in the European Union; impact of the integration on regions; regional policy in the European Union from 1975 to 1999; the Structural Funds 2000- 2006 and openness to Eastern European countries. First published in 1980 and authored in conjunction with Klaassen, with a second edition in 1987, this edition is updated and enlarged to include recent developments of EU regional strategies and policies. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR