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The Impact of EU Structural Funds on Regional Disparities within Member States

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas P Kyriacou

    (Departament d'Economia, Universitat de Girona, Campus de Montilivi, 17071, Girona, Spain)

  • Oriol Roca-Sagalés

    (Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Edifici B, Bellaterra 08193, Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

We examine the impact of structural and cohesion funds on regional disparities within EU countries over the period 1995–2006. We find that structural funds have reduced regional disparities over this period. Our empirical estimates also suggest that the effect of structural funds on regional disparities is potentially reversed above some level of transfer intensity (approximately 1.6% of country gross domestic product). This has implications for the desirable allocation of the funds across countries especially since, in the current programming period (2007–13), all the new member states of the Union except for Cyprus and Malta have a transfer intensity which exceeds this threshold.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas P Kyriacou & Oriol Roca-Sagalés, 2012. "The Impact of EU Structural Funds on Regional Disparities within Member States," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 30(2), pages 267-281, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:30:y:2012:i:2:p:267-281
    DOI: 10.1068/c11140r
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    References listed on IDEAS

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