IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/regstd/v40y2006i6p601-616.html

Regional Specialization in the European Union

Author

Listed:
  • Roberto Ezcurra
  • Pedro Pascual
  • Manuel Rapun

Abstract

Ezcurra R., Pascual P. and Rapun M. (2006) Regional specialization in the European Union, Regional Studies 40, 601-616. This paper examines productive specialization in the regions of the European Union between 1977 and 1999 using the information provided by a set of methodological instruments that allow one to overcome several of the limitations of the conventional approach used in this type of analysis. The results obtained reveal a process of convergence in regional productive structures during the 23 years considered. This is due to the behaviour of regions with high levels of specialization at the start of the period whose productive structures have tended to shift towards the European average over time. The analysis carried out also shows the major role played by regional size, market access and geographical location in explaining specialization in the European context. Ezcurra R., Pascual P. et Rapun M. (2006) La specialisation regionale dans l'Union europeenne, Regional Studies 40, 601-616. A partir des informations fournies par un ensemble d'outils methodologiques qui permettent de surmonter plusieurs des limitations de l'approche conventionnelle employee pour ce type d'analyse, cet article cherche a examiner la specialisation productive dans les regions de l'Union europeenne entre 1977 et 1999. Les resultats ainsi obtenus laissent voir un processus de convergence des structures productives regionales pendant les vingt-trois annees en question. Cela s'explique par le comportement des regions a haute intensite de specialisation au debut de la periode et dont les structures productives ont eu tendance a approcher de la moyenne europeenne sur le temps. L'analyse montre aussi le role primordial de la taille de la region, de l'acces au marche et de la localisation geographique comme moyens d'expliquer la specialisation dans le contexte europeen. Specialisation Activite economqiue Regions Union europeenne Ezcurra R., Pascual P. und Rapun M. (2006) Regionale Spezialisierung in der europaischen Union, Regional Studies 40, 601-616. Dieser Aufsatz untersucht Produktspezialisierung in den Regionen der Europaischen Union im Zeitraum von1977 bis 1999, wobei Informationen von einer Reihe methodologischer Instrumente benutzt werden, die es den Autoren gestatten, einige der Begrenzungen des konventionellen Ansatzes zu uberwinden, die zu dieser Art Analyse verwendet werden. Die so erhaltenen Ergebnisse erhellen einen Vorgang der Konvergenz regionaler Produktionsstrukturen, der sich uber die hier untersuchten dreiundzwanzig Jahre hinzieht. Dies ist dem Verhalten von Regionen hochgradiger Spezialisierung zu Beginn der Untersuchungsperiode zuzuschreiben, deren Produktionsstrukturen dazu neigten, sich im Laufe der Zeit dem europaischen Durchschnitt anzupassen. Die hier durchgefuhrte Analyse zeigt auch die betrachtliche Rolle, welche die Grosse einer Region, Zugang zum Markt und geographischer Standort bei der Erklarung der Spezialisierung im europaischen Zusammenhang spielt. Spezialisierung Wirtschaftliche Aktivitat Regionen Europaische Union Ezcurra R., Pascual P. y Rapun M. (2006) Especializacion regional en la Union Europea, Regional Studies 40, 601-616. En este articulo analizamos la especializacion productiva en las regiones de la Union Europea durante el periodo de 1977 a 1999 con ayuda de informacion recabada mediante una serie de instrumentos metodologicos con los que hemos podido superar algunas limitaciones de los enfoques convencionales que normalmente se utilizan en este tipo de analisis. Los resultados obtenidos indican un proceso de convergencia en las estructuras productivas de las regiones durante el periodo estudiado que abarca veintitres anos. Esto se debe al comportamiento de las regiones con altos niveles de especializacion al principio del periodo, donde las estructuras productivas tienden a cambiar hacia la media europea con el paso del tiempo. Con este analisis tambien demostramos el papel principal que desempenan el tamano regional, el acceso al mercado y la localizacion geografica geografica a la hora de explicar la especializacion en un contexto europeo. Especializacion Actividad economica Regiones Union Europea

Suggested Citation

  • Roberto Ezcurra & Pedro Pascual & Manuel Rapun, 2006. "Regional Specialization in the European Union," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(6), pages 601-616.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:40:y:2006:i:6:p:601-616
    DOI: 10.1080/00343400600868754
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00343400600868754
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1080/00343400600868754?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to look for a different version below or

    for a different version of it.

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Martin Hallet, 2002. "Regional Specialisation and Concentration in the EU," Advances in Spatial Science, in: Juan R. Cuadrado-Roura & Martí Parellada (ed.), Regional Convergence in the European Union, chapter 3, pages 53-76, Springer.
    2. Florax, Raymond & Folmer, Henk, 1992. "Specification and estimation of spatial linear regression models : Monte Carlo evaluation of pre-test estimators," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(3), pages 405-432, September.
    3. Mary Amiti, 1999. "Specialization patterns in Europe," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 135(4), pages 573-593, December.
    4. Pinkse, Joris & Slade, Margaret E., 1998. "Contracting in space: An application of spatial statistics to discrete-choice models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 85(1), pages 125-154, July.
    5. White, Halbert, 1980. "A Heteroskedasticity-Consistent Covariance Matrix Estimator and a Direct Test for Heteroskedasticity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 48(4), pages 817-838, May.
    6. Krugman, Paul, 1991. "Increasing Returns and Economic Geography," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 99(3), pages 483-499, June.
    7. H. Hanson, Gordon, 2005. "Market potential, increasing returns and geographic concentration," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(1), pages 1-24, September.
    8. Quah, Danny, 1993. "Empirical cross-section dynamics in economic growth," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(2-3), pages 426-434, April.
    9. Quah, Danny, 1997. "Empirics for growth and distribution," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 2138, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. Helg, Rodolfo & Manasse, Paolo & Monacelli, Tommaso & Rovelli, Riccardo, 1995. "How much (a)symmetry in Europe? Evidence from industrial sectors," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 1017-1041, May.
    11. Puga, Diego, 1999. "The rise and fall of regional inequalities," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 303-334, February.
    12. Maurseth, Per Botolf, 2001. "Convergence, geography and technology," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 247-276, September.
    13. Philip Mccann & Stephen Sheppard, 2003. "The Rise, Fall and Rise Again of Industrial Location Theory," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(6-7), pages 649-663.
    14. Fujita,Masahisa & Thisse,Jacques-François, 2013. "Economics of Agglomeration," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107001411, January.
    15. Gianmarco I. P. Ottaviano & Diego Puga, 1998. "Agglomeration in the Global Economy: A Survey of the ‘New Economic Geography’," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(6), pages 707-731, August.
    16. Edward L. Ullman & Michael F. Dacey, 1960. "The Minimum Requirements Approach To The Urban Economic Base," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(1), pages 175-194, January.
    17. Kremer, Michael & Onatski, Alexei & Stock, James, 2001. "Searching for prosperity," Carnegie-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(1), pages 275-303, December.
    18. Danny Quah, 1997. "Empirics for Growth and Distribution," CEP Discussion Papers dp0324, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    19. Anselin, Luc & Bera, Anil K. & Florax, Raymond & Yoon, Mann J., 1996. "Simple diagnostic tests for spatial dependence," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 77-104, February.
    20. Quah, Danny, 1997. "Empirics for Growth and Distribution: Stratification, Polarization, and Convergence Clubs," CEPR Discussion Papers 1586, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    21. Quah, Danny T., 1996. "Empirics for economic growth and convergence," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 1353-1375, June.
    22. Quah, Danny T, 1997. "Empirics for Growth and Distribution: Stratification, Polarization, and Convergence Clubs," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 27-59, March.
    23. Martin, Philippe, 1999. "Public policies, regional inequalities and growth," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 85-105, July.
    24. Eric Sheppard, 2001. "How `economists' think: about geography, for example," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 1(1), pages 131-136, January.
    25. Julie Le Gallo, 2004. "Space-Time Analysis of GDP Disparities among European Regions: A Markov Chains Approach," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 27(2), pages 138-163, April.
    26. Sergio Rey & Brett Montouri, 1999. "US Regional Income Convergence: A Spatial Econometric Perspective," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(2), pages 143-156.
    27. Karen Helene Midelfart-Knarvik & Henry G. Overman, 2002. "Delocation and European integration: is structural spending justified? [‘Specialization patterns in Europe’]," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 17(35), pages 321-359.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Oana Ancuta Stangaciu, 2011. "The Dynamic Of Regional Trade Specialisation Pattern In Romania," CES Working Papers, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 3(2), pages 336-354, June.
    2. repec:got:cegedp:106 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Krenz, Astrid & Rübel, Gerhard, 2010. "Industrial localization and countries' specialization in the European Union: An empirical investigation," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 106, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    4. Lisa Gianmoena & Vicente Rios, 2018. "The Determinants of Resilience in European Regions During the Great Recession: a Bayesian Model Averaging Approach," Discussion Papers 2018/235, Dipartimento di Economia e Management (DEM), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
    5. Roberto Ezcurra & Vicente Rios, 2015. "Volatility and Regional Growth in Europe: Does Space Matter?," Spatial Economic Analysis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(3), pages 344-368, September.
    6. Rita De Siano & Marcella D'Uva, 2010. "Specialization and growth in Italy: what spatial econometric analysis tells us," Discussion Papers 1_2010, D.E.S. (Department of Economic Studies), University of Naples "Parthenope", Italy.
    7. Lei Nie & Yuanyuan Wang & Yanrui Wu, 2024. "Service Sector Agglomeration and Industrial Structure Optimization: Evidence from China’s Resource-Based Cities," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 24-04, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    8. Caleiro, António, 2010. "Como se pode distinguir Évora do resto do Alentejo?: Uma abordagem de estatística espacial [How can Évora be distinguished from the rest of Alentejo: A spatial statistics approach]," MPRA Paper 22057, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 12 Apr 2010.
    9. Eleni Gaki & Stella Kostopoulou & Dimitris Lagos, 2013. "Regional Inequalities In Greek Tourism Development," ERSA conference papers ersa13p729, European Regional Science Association.
    10. Liargovas, Panagiotis & Daskalopoulou, Irene, 2011. "Capital allocation in the Greek regions," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 866-888.
    11. Florian Noseleit, 2020. "The Role of Entry and Market Selection for the Dynamics of Regional Diversity and Specialization," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(1), pages 76-94, July.
    12. Margarita Billon & Roberto Ezcurra & Fernando Lera‐López, 2009. "Spatial Effects in Website Adoption by Firms in European Regions," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 54-84, March.
    13. Roberto Ezcurra, 2007. "Is Income Inequality Harmful for Regional Growth? Evidence from the European Union," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 44(10), pages 1953-1971, September.
    14. Tianling Zhang & Panda Su & Hongbing Deng, 2021. "Does the Agglomeration of Producer Services and the Market Entry of Enterprises Promote Carbon Reduction? An Empirical Analysis of the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-21, December.
    15. Longhi, Christian & Musolesi, Antonio & Baumont, Catherine, 2014. "Modeling structural change in the European metropolitan areas during the process of economic integration," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 395-407.
    16. Maria Tsiapa, 2014. "Industrial Concentration Patterns of the European Union," SCIENZE REGIONALI, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2014(3), pages 5-33.
    17. Du, Congcong & Cao, Yunhui & Ling, Yushan & Jin, Zebin & Wang, Shibo & Wang, Daoping, 2024. "Does manufacturing agglomeration promote green productivity growth in China? Fresh evidence from partially linear functional-coefficient models," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    18. Ana-Maria Holobiuc, 2020. "Income Convergence in the European Union: National and Regional Dimensions," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2020(2), pages 45-65.
    19. Xu Dong & Yang Chen & Qinqin Zhuang & Yali Yang & Xiaomeng Zhao, 2022. "Agglomeration of Productive Services, Industrial Structure Upgrading and Green Total Factor Productivity: An Empirical Analysis Based on 68 Prefectural-Level-and-Above Cities in the Yellow River Basin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-19, September.
    20. Daniel Coronado & Esther Flores & M. Ángeles Martínez, 2017. "The role of regional economic specialization in the production of university-owned patents," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 59(2), pages 513-533, September.
    21. Roberto Ezcurra, 2009. "Does Income Polarization Affect Economic Growth? The Case of the European Regions," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(2), pages 267-285.
    22. Rita De Siano & Marcella D'Uva, 2012. "Italian regional specialization: a spatial analysis," Discussion Papers 7_2012, CRISEI, University of Naples "Parthenope", Italy.
    23. Astrid KRENZ & Gerhard RÜBEL, 2009. "Explaining Industrial Localization and Countries´ Specialization in the European Union: An Empirical Investigation," EcoMod2009 21500056, EcoMod.
    24. Longhi, C. & Musolesi, A. & Baumont, C., 2013. "Modeling the industrial dynamics of the European metropolitan areas during the process of economic integration: a semiparametric approach," Working Papers 2013-10, Grenoble Applied Economics Laboratory (GAEL).

    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. Cem Ertur & Julie Le Gallo & Catherine Baumont, 2006. "The European Regional Convergence Process, 1980-1995: Do Spatial Regimes and Spatial Dependence Matter?," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 29(1), pages 3-34, January.
    2. Kurt Geppert & Andreas Stephan, 2008. "Regional disparities in the European Union: Convergence and agglomeration," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 87(2), pages 193-217, June.
    3. Maarten Bosker & Waldo Krugell, 2008. "Regional Income Evolution In South Africa After Apartheid," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(3), pages 493-523, August.
    4. Roberto Ezcurra & Pedro Pascual, 2007. "Regional Polarisation and National Development in the European Union," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 44(1), pages 99-122, January.
    5. Patricio Aroca & Dong Guo & Geoffrey J. D. Hewings, 2006. "Spatial Convergence in China: 1952-99," WIDER Working Paper Series RP2006-89, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Roberto Ezcurra & Carlos Gil & Pedro Pascual & Manuel Rapún, 2004. "Regional Productive Specialisation and Inequality in the European Union," ERSA conference papers ersa04p372, European Regional Science Association.
    7. Breinlich, Holger & Ottaviano, Gianmarco I.P. & Temple, Jonathan R.W., 2014. "Regional Growth and Regional Decline," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 4, pages 683-779, Elsevier.
    8. Yannis M. Ioannides & Henry G. Overman, 2004. "Spatial evolution of the US urban system," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 4(2), pages 131-156, April.
    9. Hans-Friedrich Eckey & Matthias Türck, 2007. "Convergence of EU-Regions. A Literature Report," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 10, pages 5-32.
    10. Susana IRANZO, 2010. "Trade Liberalization, Agglomeration and Public Policies: the Case of the European Regional Policies," EcoMod2004 330600070, EcoMod.
    11. Daniel A. Tirado Fabregat & Alfonso Díez-Minguela & Julio Martínez-Galarraga, 2015. "A closer look at the long-term patterns of regional income inequality in Spain: The poor stay poor (and stay together)," Working Papers. Serie EC 2015-05, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
    12. repec:ebl:ecbull:v:18:y:2006:i:6:p:1-6 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Cristina D. Checherita, 2009. "Variations on economic convergence: The case of the United States," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 88(2), pages 259-278, June.
    14. Jesús Peiró-Palomino, 2016. "European regional convergence revisited: the role of intangible assets," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 57(1), pages 165-194, July.
    15. M. Herrerías, 2012. "Weighted convergence and regional growth in China: an alternative approach (1952–2008)," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 49(3), pages 685-718, December.
    16. Nicolas Debarsy & Cem Ertur, 2006. "The European Enlargement Process and Regional Convergence Revisited: Spatial Effects Still Matter," ERSA conference papers ersa06p198, European Regional Science Association.
    17. Sheila Chapman & Stefania Cosci & Loredana Mirra, 2012. "Income dynamics in an enlarged Europe: the role of capital regions," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 48(3), pages 663-693, June.
    18. Levi John Wolf & Sergio Rey, 2016. "On the lumpability of regional income convergence," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 265-275, October.
    19. María Hierro & Adolfo Maza, 2015. "From Discrete To Continuous-Time Transition Matrices In Intra-Distribution Dynamics Analysis: An Application To Per Capita Wealth In Europe," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 67(3), pages 227-235, July.
    20. Amador, João & Cabral, Sónia & Ramos Maria, José, 2007. "International Trade Patterns over the Last Four Decades: How does Portugal Compare with other Cohesion Countries?," MPRA Paper 5996, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    21. Helena Marques, 2008. "Trade And Factor Flows In A Diverse Eu: What Lessons For The Eastern Enlargement(S)?," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(2), pages 364-408, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

    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:taf:regstd:v:40:y:2006:i:6:p:601-616. 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: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.tandfonline.com/CRES20 .

    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.