Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/315080 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Citation: 
[Journal:] Review of World Economics [ISSN:] 1610-2886 [Volume:] 160 [Issue:] 4 [Publisher:] Springer Berlin Heidelberg [Place:] Berlin/Heidelberg [Year:] 2024 [Pages:] 1443-1475
Publisher: 
Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin/Heidelberg
Abstract: 
Abstract The EU enlargement process has thrust EU internal border regions into the spotlight of the European single market. This study explores how this specific macro-institutional change has impacted their socio-economic development. Tracking outcomes across four EU enlargement waves from 1986 to 2007, we identify integration effects across EU NUTS3 regions. Pooled over all waves and border regions, positive integration effects emerge for per capita GDP, labor productivity, patents per capita, and night light emissions in border regions compared to non-border areas. These effects diminish with increasing spatial distance from the enlargement border. At a detailed level, structural heterogeneities become evident across enlargement waves and region types. Internal border regions in established EU member countries benefit relatively in terms of GDP per capita and labor productivity but experience relative declines in employment rates and population. In contrast, border regions in new member countries, particularly during the 2004 and 2007 eastern enlargements, gain from deepening economic integration in terms of population and employment growth. Sector-specific estimations indicate post-enlargement specialization of economic activities in border regions in line with standard trade theories.
Subjects: 
Economic integration
EU enlargement
Internal border regions
Regional development
Treatment effect estimation
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Additional Information: 
C23;F15;O47;R11
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by Logo
Document Type: 
Article
Document Version: 
Published Version
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