This work combines the theory and practice of regional economi policy in Europe. Six main topics are covered as follows: theory of regional economic development and policy; regional policy at the national level; regional disparities in the EU - past and present; impact on the integration on regions; regional policy in the EU 1975-1999; the structural funds 2000-2006 and openness to Eastern European countires. The book also includes an up-to-date bibliography on the topics covered.

Regional Economic Policy in Europe presents a tightly focused selection of policy, empirical and theoretical perspectives on contemporary dimensions of regional economic policy in the EU. It concentrates on three areas; the dissimilarities and resulting convergence of disparate regions within the EU; the localisation of economic activities and how regions can understand and manage them and, finally, the experiences and lessons that can be drawn from European regional policy. While exploring EU cohesion and regional development more widely, the book also examines Spanish, Belgian and Eastern European experiences on growth, human capital, foreign investment and technological spillovers. This up-to-date and thoroughly researched study is one that will be appreciated by academics and researchers of European studies and regional economics in Europe. Policymakers will also find the conclusions reached within the pages of this book invaluable.

Originally published in 1983, when Europe’s economies were facing the worst recession since the 1930s, this book reviews the outcome of a quarter of a century of research and practical experience in the field of regional economic management. In the spatial context of the European Community, the author explores central issues by integrating the results of his own research with those of economists, geographers, economic historians and psychologists. It provides a wide survey of the subject, demonstrates the complexity of the spatial-economic systems which the regional economic planner seeks to modify, analyses the strategies for regional development employed by national and international agencies and offers a substantial annotated bibliography. Contradictions arising from the contrasting spatial perspectives of national governments and the European Commission are emphasised. Among other things, it concludes that many regional problems strongly reflect perception and behavioural factors as well as purely economic constraints.

Addressing regional economic policy in Europe, this volume covers the theory of regional economic development and policy; regional policy at the national level; past and present regional disparities in the European Union; impact of the integration on regions; regional policy in the European Union from 1975 to 1999; the Structural Funds 2000- 2006 and openness to Eastern European countries. First published in 1980 and authored in conjunction with Klaassen, with a second edition in 1987, this edition is updated and enlarged to include recent developments of EU regional strategies and policies. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This book is the first quantitative description of Europe’s economic development at a regional level over the entire twentieth century. Based on a new and comprehensive set of data, it brings together a group of leading economic historians in order to describe and analyze the development of European regions, both for nation states and for Europe as a whole. This provides a new transnational perspective on Europe’s quantitative development, offering for the first time a systematic long-run analysis of national policies independent from the use of national statistical units. The new transnational dimension of data allows for the analysis of national policies in a more thorough way than ever before. The book provides a comprehensive database at the level of modern NUTS 2 regions for the period 1900–2010 in 10-year intervals, and a panoramic view of economic development both below and above the national level. It will be of great interest to economic historians, economic geographers, development economists and those with an interest in economic growth.

This book brings together a rich selection of up-to-date practical experience of EU regional policy from across Europe. It provides different perspectives on the design and operation of regional development strategies under the Structural Funds, from people closely involved in studying, managing or advising on the process at EU, national and regional levels. It therefore offers a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of the structural policies than has been available hitherto. This will prove particularly useful to researchers, practitioners and students interested in European regional policies and processes.

Economic integration is one of the most noteworthy issues in international economic policy at the end of the twentieth century. The recent examples of the European Union (EU) and the North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA) have raised important questions about the economic integration process and the possible establishment of economic unions in other parts of the world. Against the backdrop of the financial crisis in Europe and prospects of increasing integration in Asia, this volume showcases research from an international array of researchers to provide a basic understanding of the current issues, problems, challenges, and opportunities for achieving integration, addressing both empirical and theoretical aspects of such topics as monetary union, social policy reform and social union, public finance and technology policy. The chapters in Part 1 are focused primarily on economic issues, while Part 2 covers on social policy, the welfare state, and political reforms, with a particular emphasis on the European Union. Among the questions addressed: What are the main determinants and implications for socio-economic integration? How can economic policy influence the growth and integration process? Why is innovation important for regional economic development? What has been the policy response so far and what lessons have we learned from it? And finally, what are our action lines for the future?