https://hdl.handle.net/10419/59894 Sat, 07 Nov 2026 17:31:17 GMT 2026-11-07T17:31:17Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/62290 Title: Lessons for regional policy from the new economic geography and the endogenous growth theory Authors: Karl, Helmut; Matus Velasco, Ximena Fernanda Abstract: The social and economic cohesion across the European territory represents one of the main tasks of the European Community. This goal goes along with the objective to reach a balance and sustainable growth and economic convergence at the regional and country level, as well as to avoid income and employment disparities. However, due to different reasons (e.g. factor endowment, agglomeration economies, infrastructure facilities or innovation networks) this goal may be difficult to obtain. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to show the forces which may impede the cohesion of the European territory. This is done through the tools offered by the new economic geography and the endogenous growth theories. Looking at these perspectives a framework with some proposals to improve regional policy at European, national and local level can be provided. Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/62290 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/62289 Title: Economic development and regional disparities in France Authors: Dormard, Serge Abstract: To begin with, we present some features of the regional development in France, insisting on the concentration and specialization phenomena shown by the regional economies. We will see that the territory of France, despite important transformations especially in favour of the South of the country, is still suffering from profound imbalances, particularly between the region of Paris and the province. Then we analyze the issue of disparities of the levels of development and their convergence over the last decades. These disparities are still very strong and do not seem to decrease but very slowly. Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/62289 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/62296 Title: Enlargement and EU regional policy Authors: Bachtler, John; Downes, Ruth Abstract: The following paper examines the arguments about enlargement and cohesion with a summary of one of the preparatory studies undertaken for the Second Cohesion Report, as well as references to some of the Commission's own research. The paper then outlines some of the options for the future of EU regional policy, describing four possible scenarios originally put forward in a discussion paper before concluding with some questions for discussion. Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/62296 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/62288 Title: The poverty and wealth of regions (assumptions, hypotheses, examples) Authors: Gorzelak, Grzegorz Abstract: There exist many possible approaches to analyse the poverty and wealth of regions (growth theory, economic base theory, polarised growth theories, dependence theories, centre vs. periphery approaches). All these line of research frequently tend to be one-side, and some times too particularised, which impairs their explicatory - and therefore applicatory - potential. However, it is possible to attempt a generalised outlook on regional development process in a longer, comparative historical perspective. The present work is an endeavour to expound such a theoretical proposition in a generalised and dynamic formulation of the substance and mutual relations between key factors of regional development (regional features, the development paradigm - location criteria - and external stimuli). This theoretical model aims to provide a comprehensive dynamic view of the factors and circumstances determining the development of regions. One of the lessons derived from the theoretical proposition is that maintaining high competitiveness requires continuous adjustments of the regional features to the prevailing - and changing - location criteria. The way the external stimuli are utilised represents also a fundamental factor behind regional development. Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/62288 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z