IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/epolit/v40y2023i1d10.1007_s40888-022-00293-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Do informal institutions matter for the economic resilience of European regions? A study of the post-2008 shock

Author

Listed:
  • Elena Prodi

    (University of Ferrara
    CiMET-Italy’s National University Centre for Applied Economic Studies)

  • Stefano Ghinoi

    (University of Greenwich
    University of Helsinki)

  • Lauretta Rubini

    (University of Ferrara
    CiMET-Italy’s National University Centre for Applied Economic Studies)

  • Francesco Silvestri

    (University of Ferrara
    CiMET-Italy’s National University Centre for Applied Economic Studies
    University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between informal institutions and resilience across EU regions in the years following the 2008 Great Recession. By using voluntary work as a proxy for informal institutions, we analyse its association with regional resilience over two different periods: the resistance phase (2008–2010) and the recovery phase (2010–2013). Overall, we find robust evidence that voluntary work is positively associated with greater regional resilience. Our results also show that there is a relation between voluntary work and formal institutions, represented by welfare state models. Overall, the effect of voluntary work is always positive for strong welfare states, but its effect is mitigated by the presence of public provisions. Additionally, in regions with a relatively weaker institutional context, informal institutions retain their positive effect. However, in this context, informal institutions appear to take more time to deploy their effects, but their positive impact on regional labour market recovery is even stronger than in other welfare regimes, probably due to the poor public support that characterises this welfare system.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Prodi & Stefano Ghinoi & Lauretta Rubini & Francesco Silvestri, 2023. "Do informal institutions matter for the economic resilience of European regions? A study of the post-2008 shock," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 40(1), pages 189-223, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:epolit:v:40:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s40888-022-00293-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s40888-022-00293-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s40888-022-00293-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s40888-022-00293-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Silvia Rocchetta & Andrea Mina, 2019. "Technological coherence and the adaptive resilience of regional economies," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(10), pages 1421-1434, October.
    2. Zak, Paul J & Knack, Stephen, 2001. "Trust and Growth," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 111(470), pages 295-321, April.
    3. Riccardo Crescenzi & Davide Luca & Simona Milio, 2016. "Editor's choice The geography of the economic crisis in Europe: national macroeconomic conditions, regional structural factors and short-term economic performance," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 9(1), pages 13-32.
    4. Angela Luci, 2009. "Female labour market participation and economic growth," International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 4(2/3), pages 97-108.
    5. Arie Y. Lewin & Silvia Massini & Carine Peeters, 2011. "Microfoundations of Internal and External Absorptive Capacity Routines," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(1), pages 81-98, February.
    6. Paolo Rizzi & Paola Graziano & Antonio Dallara, 2018. "A capacity approach to territorial resilience: the case of European regions," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 60(2), pages 285-328, March.
    7. Stephen Knack & Philip Keefer, 1997. "Does Social Capital Have an Economic Payoff? A Cross-Country Investigation," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 112(4), pages 1251-1288.
    8. Ron Martin, 2012. "Regional economic resilience, hysteresis and recessionary shocks," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 12(1), pages 1-32, January.
    9. Mr. Francis Fukuyama, 2000. "Social Capital and Civil Society," IMF Working Papers 2000/074, International Monetary Fund.
    10. Vincenzo Alfano, 2022. "Does social capital enforce social distancing? The role of bridging and bonding social capital in the evolution of the pandemic," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 39(3), pages 839-859, October.
    11. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/f0uohitsgqh8dhk980ea412b5 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Andr�s Rodr�guez-Pose, 2013. "Do Institutions Matter for Regional Development?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(7), pages 1034-1047, July.
    13. Yicheol Han & Stephan J. Goetz, 2015. "The Economic Resilience of U.S. Counties during the Great Recession," The Review of Regional Studies, Southern Regional Science Association, vol. 45(2), pages 131-149, Fall.
    14. Beugelsdijk, Sjoerd & van Schaik, Ton, 2005. "Social capital and growth in European regions: an empirical test," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 301-324, June.
    15. Ling Zhao & Huang Hao, 2021. "Informal institution and corporate innovation: From the perspective of social trust," International Journal of Financial Engineering (IJFE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 8(03), pages 1-40, September.
    16. Silvia Fabiani & Ana Lamo & Julián Messina & Tairi Rõõm, 2015. "European firm adjustment during times of economic crisis," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 4(1), pages 1-28, December.
    17. Luigi Guiso & Paola Sapienza & Luigi Zingales, 2004. "The Role of Social Capital in Financial Development," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(3), pages 526-556, June.
    18. Alessandro Sarra & Claudio Berardino & Davide Quaglione, 2019. "Deindustrialization and the technological intensity of manufacturing subsystems in the European Union," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 36(1), pages 205-243, April.
    19. Angela Luci, 2009. "Female labour market participation and economic growth," Post-Print halshs-00639695, HAL.
    20. Nicola Cortinovis & Jing Xiao & Ron Boschma & Frank G van Oort, 2017. "Quality of government and social capital as drivers of regional diversification in Europe," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 17(6), pages 1179-1208.
    21. Kevin Morgan, 2007. "The Learning Region: Institutions, Innovation and Regional Renewal," Chapters, in: Roel Rutten & Frans Boekema (ed.), The Learning Region, chapter 5, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    22. Daron Acemoglu & Simon Johnson, 2005. "Unbundling Institutions," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 113(5), pages 949-995, October.
    23. Claudia Williamson, 2009. "Informal institutions rule: institutional arrangements and economic performance," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 371-387, June.
    24. Bottazzi, Laura & Peri, Giovanni, 2003. "Innovation and spillovers in regions: Evidence from European patent data," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 687-710, August.
    25. Sara Davies, 2011. "Regional resilience in the 2008--2010 downturn: comparative evidence from European countries," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 4(3), pages 369-382.
    26. Vlad Dumitrache & Ileana Tache, 2013. "Impact of Global Economic Crisis on the European Welfare States," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3), pages 3-18.
    27. Kevin Morgan, 2007. "The Learning Region: Institutions, Innovation and Regional Renewal," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(sup1), pages 147-159.
    28. Roberta Capello & Andrea Caragliu & Ugo Fratesi, 2015. "Spatial heterogeneity in the costs of the economic crisis in Europe: are cities sources of regional resilience?," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 15(5), pages 951-972.
    29. Crescenzi, Riccardo & Luca, Davide & Milio, Simona, 2016. "The geography of the economic crisis in Europe: national macroeconomic conditions, regional structural factors and short-term economic performance," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 64061, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    30. Pontarollo, Nicola & Serpieri, Carolina, 2020. "A composite policy tool to measure territorial resilience capacity," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    31. Fabio Mazzola & Iolanda Cascio & Rosalia Epifanio & Giuseppe Giacomo, 2018. "Territorial capital and growth over the Great Recession: a local analysis for Italy," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 60(2), pages 411-441, March.
    32. Anneli Kaasa & Maaja Vadi & Urmas Varblane, 2014. "Regional Cultural Differences Within European Countries: Evidence from Multi-Country Surveys," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(6), pages 825-852, December.
    33. Giorgio Fazio & Luciano Lavecchia, 2013. "Social Capital Formation across Space," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 36(3), pages 296-321, July.
    34. Stefan P. T. Groot & J. L. Möhlmann & J. H. Garretsen & Henri L. F. de Groot, 2011. "The crisis sensitivity of European countries and regions: stylized facts and spatial heterogeneity," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 4(3), pages 437-456.
    35. Vartuhí Tonoyan & Robert Strohmeyer & Mohsin Habib & Manfred Perlitz, 2010. "Corruption and Entrepreneurship: How Formal and Informal Institutions Shape Small Firm Behavior in Transition and Mature Market Economies," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 34(5), pages 803-832, September.
    36. Esping-Andersen, Gosta, 1999. "Social Foundations of Postindustrial Economies," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198742005.
    37. Giacomo Becattini & Marco Bellandi & Lisa De Propis (ed.), 2009. "A Handbook of Industrial Districts," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12736.
    38. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Michael Storper, 2006. "Better Rules or Stronger Communities? On the Social Foundations of Institutional Change and Its Economic Effects," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 82(1), pages 1-25, January.
    39. Ron Martin & Peter Sunley, 2015. "On the notion of regional economic resilience: conceptualization and explanation," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 15(1), pages 1-42.
    40. Roberto Ezcurra & Vicente Rios, 2019. "Quality of government and regional resilience in the European Union. Evidence from the Great Recession," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 98(3), pages 1267-1290, June.
    41. Alessandra Faggian & Roberta Gemmiti & Timothy Jaquet & Isabella Santini, 2018. "Regional economic resilience: the experience of the Italian local labor systems," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 60(2), pages 393-410, March.
    42. Hemerijck, Anton, 2012. "Changing Welfare States," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199607600.
    43. Fikret Berkes, 2007. "Understanding uncertainty and reducing vulnerability: lessons from resilience thinking," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 41(2), pages 283-295, May.
    44. Meric Gertler, 2010. "Rules of the Game: The Place of Institutions in Regional Economic Change," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(1), pages 1-15.
    45. Sjoerd Beugelsdijk & Henri L.F. de Groot & Anton B.T.M. van Schaik, 2004. "Trust and economic growth: a robustness analysis," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 56(1), pages 118-134, January.
    46. Jefferson Duarte & Stephan Siegel & Lance Young, 2012. "Trust and Credit: The Role of Appearance in Peer-to-peer Lending," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 25(8), pages 2455-2484.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Giuseppe Terzo, 2021. "Social capital, social economy and economic resilience of Italian provinces," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 100(5), pages 1113-1135, October.
    2. Di Tommaso, Marco R. & Prodi, Elena & Pollio, Chiara & Barbieri, Elisa, 2023. "Conceptualizing and measuring “industry resilience”: Composite indicators for postshock industrial policy decision-making," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    3. Linus Holtermann & Christian Hundt, 2018. "Hierarchically structured determinants and phase related patterns of economic resilience. An empirical case study for European regions," Working Papers on Innovation and Space 2018-02, Philipps University Marburg, Department of Geography.
    4. Roberto Antonietti & Ron Boschma, 2021. "Social capital, resilience, and regional diversification in Italy [Social capital, innovation and growth: evidence from Europe]," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 30(3), pages 762-777.
    5. Hasan Engin Duran & Ugo Fratesi, 2023. "Economic resilience and regionally differentiated cycles: Evidence from a turning point approach in Italy," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 102(2), pages 219-252, April.
    6. Riccardo Cappelli & Fabio Montobbio & Andrea Morrison, 2021. "Unemployment resistance across EU regions: the role of technological and human capital," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 147-178, January.
    7. Pietro Pizzuto, 2020. "The role of regional competitiveness in shaping the heterogeneous impact of the Great Recession," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(2), pages 267-290, April.
    8. Pontarollo, Nicola & Serpieri, Carolina, 2020. "A composite policy tool to measure territorial resilience capacity," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    9. Anping Chen & Nicolaas Groenewold, 2022. "Regional Resilience in China: The Response of the Provinces to the Growth Slowdown," The Review of Regional Studies, Southern Regional Science Association, vol. 52(1), pages 74-103.
    10. Meiyue Li & Xiaowen Wang, 2022. "How Regions React to Economic Crisis: Regional Economic Resilience in a Chinese Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, December.
    11. Pedro Sánchez-Zamora & Rosa Gallardo-Cobos, 2019. "Diversity, Disparity and Territorial Resilience in the Context of the Economic Crisis: An Analysis of Rural Areas in Southern Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-21, March.
    12. Sébastien BOURDIN, 2018. "Géographie de la résilience des régions européennes face à la crise (2008-2013)," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 48, pages 53-70.
    13. Paolo Rizzi & Paola Graziano & Antonio Dallara, 2018. "A capacity approach to territorial resilience: the case of European regions," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 60(2), pages 285-328, March.
    14. Suat Tuysuz & Tüzin Baycan & Fatih Altuğ, 2022. "Economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Turkey: analysis of vulnerability and resilience of regions and diversely affected economic sectors," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 1133-1158, October.
    15. Elias Giannakis & Christos T. Papadas, 2021. "Spatial Connectivity and Regional Economic Resilience in Turbulent Times," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-12, October.
    16. Filippo Di Pietro & Patrizio Lecca & Simone Salotti, 2021. "Regional economic resilience in the European Union: a numerical general equilibrium analysis," Spatial Economic Analysis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 287-312, July.
    17. Jing Xiao & Ron Boschma & Martin Andersson, 2018. "Resilience in the European Union: the effect of the 2008 crisis on the ability of regions in Europe to develop new industrial specializations," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 27(1), pages 15-47.
    18. Fabiano Compagnucci & Gabriele Morettini, 2020. "Improving resilience at the local level: The location of essential services within inner areas. Three case studies in the Italian Marche region," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(5), pages 767-792, October.
    19. Florin Oprea & Mihaela Onofrei & Dan Lupu & Georgeta Vintila & Gigel Paraschiv, 2020. "The Determinants of Economic Resilience. The Case of Eastern European Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-11, May.
    20. Adelheid Holl, 2018. "Local employment growth patterns and the Great Recession: The case of Spain," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(4), pages 837-863, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Regional resilience; Welfare state; Volunteering; Formal and informal institutions; Spatial models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E02 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - Institutions and the Macroeconomy
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • O52 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Europe
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:epolit:v:40:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s40888-022-00293-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.