https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71570 2026-06-28T11:39:41Z 2026-06-28T11:39:41Z Kramar, Hans https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71872 2021-03-23T06:53:48Z 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Regional convergence and economic development in the EU : the relation between national growth and regional disparities within the old and the new member states Authors: Kramar, Hans Abstract: While European integration has substantially contributed to economic convergence on a national scale, the diverging development of highly developed metropolitan regions and lagging rural areas has become a growing challenge especially for the new member states in Central and Eastern Europe. Although it is widely assumed that economically growing countries are usually confronted with rising inequalities, the question, whether there is a direct relation between total economic growth and regional divergence, has not been sufficiently answered so far. In this context the paper inquires to which degree the process of economic restructuring and catching-up in European countries is accompanied by increasing spatial disparities. The empirical investigation of recent GDP data confirms the trend towards economic convergence on a national scale. On a regional scale, however, the process of convergence was much slower and almost came to an end after the beginning of the global economic crisis in 2008. The reason for these diverging results can be found in the change of disparities within the countries: While regional inequalities largely remained unchanged in the majority of the old member states, the gap between rich and poor regions widened in most countries which accessed the EU since 2004. This trend slowed down or even reversed after 2008, which seems to confirm the assumption that economic growth intensifies spatial divergence. A detailed analysis of the correlation between national growth rates and the change of regional disparities, however, indicates that growing divergence in the new member states can hardly be explained by the speed of total economic growth, but rather by other specific conditions there. A reflection on the mechanisms of agglomeration economies suggests three arguments for the strong diverging effect of the catching-up processes in the new member states, which await to be tested empirically in future research.

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z Rontos, Konstantinos Syrmali, Maria-Eleni Vavouras, Ioannis Karagouni, Efstratia https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71871 2021-03-23T06:53:13Z 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Sectoral specialization and export orientation of European Union countries and regions in the period of crisis Authors: Rontos, Konstantinos; Syrmali, Maria-Eleni; Vavouras, Ioannis; Karagouni, Efstratia Abstract: In this study sectoral specialization of European Union countries and regions in the current period of crisis is analyzed. As a result, groups of countries shall emerge based on which the real developmental archetypes of European space will be shaped. The distinction does not lie on the traditional axis (of favored) North – (less favored) South, but mainly, on the under configuration axis (of favored) West – (less favored) East. As a result, the regions of Europe that specialize in dynamic sectors of economic activity shall be located. These regions demonstrate comparative advantages, which give rise to export capacities as well. Moreover the intertemporal analysis of indicators shall exhibit the great contribution of sectoral composition in relation to the general socioeconomic basis along with the structural characteristics of countries and regions, which are fundamental for the developmental process.

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z Saúde Guerreiro, Gertrudes Bento Caleiro, António https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71870 2021-03-23T06:52:33Z 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The spatial convergence of knowledge in Portugal Authors: Saúde Guerreiro, Gertrudes; Bento Caleiro, António Abstract: Human resources are an essential element in territorial development. When these are characterized by a high level of training, they also enhance a number of effects in fundamental areas of binomial territorial-social cohesion. In this respect, the existence of higher education institutions throughout the territory allows the spread of human resources’ qualification but, by itself, does not guarantee the retention of these resources in different regions. Thus, the objective of this paper is to undertake a spatial analysis of convergence of knowledge through studying the evolution of the percentage of population with higher education in the periods elapsed between the last three censuses in Portugal. Although that percentage has risen appreciably, the convergence is shown to be (very) insignificant.

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z Bento Caleiro, António Guerreiro, António Saúde Guerreiro, Gertrudes https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71869 2021-03-23T06:52:05Z 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: On the spatial convergence of (un)employment in Portugal Authors: Bento Caleiro, António; Guerreiro, António; Saúde Guerreiro, Gertrudes Abstract: Regarding the EU policies of territorial cohesion is common to assume that, having the same been successful (in Portugal), regional disparities decreased. The purpose of this article is to assess the veracity of this allegation, for that considering the values of employment and unemployment rates by municipalities, determined in the last two censuses held in Portugal, i.e. 2001 and 2011. In doing so, spatial econometric techniques are used, namely local indicators of spatial association and spatial clusters, in order to better understand the eventual process of spatial convergence that may have occurred in Portugal in that period. The results point towards a spatial convergence of employment rates (both in total and by genres) and also of female unemployment rates but a spatial divergence of male unemployment rates.

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z