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Smart Specialisation and Resilience: How Future-Proof are European Regions?

Author

Listed:
  • Mirko Kruse

    (Hamburg Institute of International Economics, Germany)

  • Melanie Mesloh

    (Hamburg Institute of International Economics, Germany)

  • Jan Wedemeier

    (Hamburg Institute of International Economics, Germany)

Abstract

The European Union member states face a new increase of inequality. Thereby, decreasing regional inequality among its regions is one of the central political aims of the European Union and is addressed in almost all European development strategies. It seems that the results of the strategies in terms of cohesion are ambiguous and certain targets have been missed. More dramatically, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the European countries differently. It is to be assumed that the disparities among European regions tend to increase again, not only between the different directions, but also between core and peripheral regions within countries. The article at hand aims to contribute to the ongoing discussion by showing that not only recent development trends indicate a dysfunctional convergence process but also the economic specialisation can become a significant disadvantage for certain regions considering current global megatrends that might lead to a conservation of existing disparity patterns. The article therefore arguments that European Structural Policy needs to recognise the shortcomings of the past and calls for a regional policy that focuses on endogenous growth potential in regions rather than financial transfer alone. Smart Specialisation could be an instrument to develop and push such endogenous growth potential.

Suggested Citation

  • Mirko Kruse & Melanie Mesloh & Jan Wedemeier, 2022. "Smart Specialisation and Resilience: How Future-Proof are European Regions?," Romanian Journal of Regional Science, Romanian Regional Science Association, vol. 16(1), pages 34-50, JUNE.
    • Handle: RePEc:rrs:journl:v:16:y:2022:i:1:p:34-50
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    European Cohesion; Regional Convergence; Innovation; Resilience; Smart Specialisation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O52 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Europe
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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