Integration, Growth and Cohesion in an Enlarged European Union

"This book's thirteen contributions bring together the results of recent research on determinants of regional specialization, growth, and convergence in the context of European integration. They offer fresh theoretical and empirical evidence on patterns of regional production structures, specialization, regional disparities, convergence and divergence processes, and evaluation of cohesion policies on both current and future European Union (EU) member states in the context of increased integration. These subjects are addressed in both individual and cross-country analysis using innovative methodologies. They examine structural changes and economic performance differentials across regions and countries in an enlarged EU as well as on evaluating existing policies aimed at reducing economic imbalances.

Integration, Growth and Cohesion in an Enlarged European Union: An Overview.- Integration, Growth and Inequalities.- Regional Inequalities in the European Union.- Regional Inequalities in the EU Accession Countries: Evolution and Challenges.- Total Factor Productivity and Economic Freedom - Implications for EU Enlargement.- What Determines Relative Sectoral Investment Patterns in EU Regions?.- Catching-Up Process, South-South Integration and Location of Industrial Activity.- A Historical Investigation of Regional Patterns of Specialization: The Case of Italy.- Evaluations of Cohesion Policies.- Promoting Cohesion in the Enlarged EU: Is there a Role for National Development Plans?.- HERMIN: A Macro Model Framework for the Study of Cohesion and Transition.- Macro Impact Evaluation of National Development Plans: Ireland and Estonia.- The Role of Ex-Ante Evaluation in CEE National Development Planning: A Case Study Based on Polish Administrative Experience.- Normative and Positive Problems of Regional Policies.- Fiscal Transfer Mechanisms and Asymmetric Shocks in EMU.