Regional Convergence In The European Union

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.

Convergence, Cohesion and Integration in the European Union tackles the fundamental theoretical and empirical issues underlying the process of European integration. Two basic arguments underlie the book. The first is that economic convergence in postwar Europe has reduced the disparities between regions and that this has been an important accelerator of the drive for integration. The second is that, in contrast to the situation before 1985 when nation states dominated the move to integration, grass roots pressure has been the dominant force since the Single European Act and the preparation for the single market.

Recoge : 1. Introductory session. - 2. Past convergence within the European Union. - 3. Accesion countries : achievements in real convergence. - 4. Accesion countries : how to balance real and nominal convergence challenges for monetary and exchange rate policy. - 5. Does the financial sector contribute to real growth? - 6. Is there somebody left out in the cold? prospects of CEE countries other than current accesion countries. - 7. Policy challenges within the (enlarged) EU : how to foster economic convergence?

Although the EU is growing ever closer as a single economic entity, the difference in wealth and economic power among its member nations – from Germany and France to Romania and Bulgaria – is still enormous. This is despite the European Union’s continuous efforts to reduce welfare differences between its member states since its foundation in 1958: The long-term objective of the EU is a convergence of income and GDP per capita levels within the entire Union. This policy is known as European cohesion policy, which nowadays accounts for more than one third of the EU’s total budget. The vast financial importance of the cohesion policy naturally begs two questions: Are structural funds effective in promoting economic growth? And if so, do they promote income and welfare convergence within the EU? Yet most studies so far have merely yielded fragmented results, as they only focus on single EU member states, or consist of data for short time periods. In contrast, this study captures long-term effects of structural funds in the recent past and delivers accurate and meaningful empirical results. It focuses on data for the European Regional Development Fund since this is the most important item of cohesion policy which financially supports projects that aim to foster convergence directly. In this book: - European cohesion policy; - structural funds; - European Regional Development Fund; - economic convergence; - Solow-Model; - growth theory

Interpreting Convergence in the European Union introduces the idea of collective action as a prerequisite for achieving convergence and cohesion in the European Union. Institutional networks and social capital play a crucial role in influencing actors' preferences and shaping institutional interactions through the process of political exchange and socialization. Although the main focus of the book is on policymaking processes and governance structures in EU regional policy, its core theoretical hypotheses and conclusion are drawn from empirical research into the response of Greek regions to the challenges of Europeanization. This framework is applicable to almost all areas of EU public policymaking.

Recoge: Part I Convergence between nations and regions in the EU: general issues. - Part II Convergence in the EU: fiscal adn monetary issues. - Part III Convergence in the EU: social and labour market issues.