IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/atk/issues/q3202410199.html

Enhancing the competitiveness of EU regions: A Comparative analysis of Local Regulatory Environments

Author

Listed:
  • Tommaso Rooms

    (World Bank)

Abstract

Local regulations and implementation of national laws constitute a deciding factor in creating an investment climate conducive to economic growth. In the European Union (EU) context, local differences are a hurdle to such growth and jeopardize regional economic convergence. This article analyzes an original subnational dataset from the World Bank that reveals regional differences in business regulations and their enforcement across 16 EU member states. The paper aims to offer insights for policymakers seeking to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and improve local business environments. The analysis is based on data collected using the World Bank’s Doing Business methodology between 2017 and 2022. By taking stock of such data, the article also provides a benchmark for assessing the contributions of new and upcoming assessments of the EU subnational business environment that are currently being conducted through the World Bank’s Business Ready methodology, which has replaced and improved upon Doing Business.

Suggested Citation

  • Tommaso Rooms, 2024. "Enhancing the competitiveness of EU regions: A Comparative analysis of Local Regulatory Environments," Regional Economy, , vol. 8(Q3), pages 4-14.
    • Handle: RePEc:atk:issues:q32024:10199
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.regionaleconomy.eu/RePEc/pdf/8Q3/4-14.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.regionaleconomy.eu/rivista/re/enhancing-the-competitiveness-of-eu-regions-a-comparative-analysis-of-local-regulatory-environments/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. World Bank, "undated". "Doing Business in the European Union 2020," World Bank Publications - Reports 33650, The World Bank Group.
    2. International Finance Corporation & World Bank & Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, 2013. "Good Practices for Construction Regulation and Enforcement Reform : Guidelines for Reformers," World Bank Publications - Reports 16612, The World Bank Group.
    3. Miriam Bruhn & David McKenzie, 2014. "Entry Regulation and the Formalization of Microenterprises in Developing Countries," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 29(2), pages 186-201.
    4. World Bank Group, "undated". "Doing Business in the European Union 2018," World Bank Publications - Reports 30295, The World Bank Group.
    5. Norman V. Loayza & Luis Servén, 2010. "Business Regulation and Economic Performance," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2554, April.
    6. repec:wbk:wbpubs:30295 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. John H Dunning, 1980. "Towards an Eclectic Theory of International Production: Some Empirical Tests," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 11(1), pages 9-31, March.
    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. Luca Bettarelli & Tommaso Rooms, 2022. "Regional heterogeneity in the business environment: the case of Italy," Regional Economy, , vol. 6(Q1), pages 50-60.
    2. Li, Jiatao & Surana, Ankit & Chavan, Meena & Kano, Liena & Schotter, Andreas & Chirico, Francesco, 2025. "The internationalization of digital platform-based firms: A systematic literature review and directions for future research," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 60(4).
    3. Eromenko, Igor, 2010. "Accession to the WTO. Computable General Equilibrium Analysis: the Case of Ukraine. Part I," MPRA Paper 67476, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Omer Siddique, 2022. "The Determinants of Total Factor Productivity Growth in Pakistan: An Exploration," PIDE-Working Papers 2022:4, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.
    5. Ceyhun Elgin & M. ayhan Köse & Franziska Ohnsorge & Shu Yu, 2021. "Understanding Informality Abstract:," Working Papers 2021/03, Bogazici University, Department of Economics.
    6. Alon, Ilan & Mersland, Roy & Musteen, Martina & Randøy, Trond, 2020. "The research frontier on internationalization of social enterprises," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(5).
    7. Chari, Murali & Acikgoz, Senay, 2016. "What drives emerging economy firm acquisitions in tax havens?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 664-671.
    8. Edward Chen, 1981. "The Role of MNCs in the Production and Transfer of Technology in Host Countries," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 12(4), pages 579-599, October.
    9. Birkinshaw, Julian & Holm, Ulf & Thilenius, Peter & Arvidsson, Niklas, 2000. "Consequences of perception gaps in the headquarters-subsidiary relationship," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 9(3), pages 321-344, June.
    10. Collinson S. & Narula, R., 2014. "Asset recombination in international partnerships as a source of improved innovation capabilities in China," MERIT Working Papers 2014-061, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    11. Bagheri, Mahshid & Mitchelmore, Siwan & Bamiatzi, Vassiliki & Nikolopoulos, Konstantinos, 2019. "Internationalization Orientation in SMEs: The Mediating Role of Technological Innovation," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 121-139.
    12. Abel,Martin & Carranza,Eliana & Geronimo,Kimberly Jean & Ortega Hesles,Maria Elena, 2022. "Can Temporary Wage Incentives Increase Formal Employment ? Experimental Evidence from Mexico," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10234, The World Bank.
    13. Teece, David J., 2006. "Reflections on the Hymer thesis and the multinational enterprise," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 124-139, April.
    14. Godwin Okafor & Jenifer Piesse & Allan Webster, 2017. "FDI Determinants in Least Recipient Regions: The Case of Sub†Saharan Africa and MENA," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 29(4), pages 589-600, December.
    15. Xubei Luo & Nong Zhu, 2015. "What Drives Productivity Volatility of Chinese Industrial Firms?," CIRANO Working Papers 2015s-32, CIRANO.
    16. Ebenezer Bugri Anarfo & Abel Mawuko Agoba & Robert Abebreseh, 2017. "Foreign Direct Investment in Ghana: The Role of Infrastructural Development and Natural Resources," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 29(4), pages 575-588, December.
    17. Jongmoo Jay Choi & Hoje Jo & Jimi Kim & Moo Sung Kim, 2018. "Business Groups and Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(4), pages 931-954, December.
    18. Oxelheim, Lars & Randøy, Trond, 2021. "The Global Logistic Chain Under Siege in a Post-Covid Era," Working Paper Series 1404, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    19. Sean Joss Gossel, 2020. "FDI and Elections in Sub-Saharan Africa," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(4), pages 1151-1172, September.
    20. Chandra, Ramdas & Newburry, William, 1997. "A cognitive map of the international business field," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 6(4), pages 387-410, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

    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:atk:issues:q32024:10199. 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: Regional Economy (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    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.