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The Elusive Quest for the Holy Grail of an Impact of EU Funds on Regional Growth

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  • Jan Fidrmuc
  • Martin Hulényi
  • Olga Zajkowska

Abstract

We analyze the impact of EU structural and cohesion funds on economic growth of European regions, using 2SLS to tackle the potential problem of endogeneity, and estimating a spatial model to account for inter-regional spillovers. We use the presence of environmentally protected areas (under the European Union’s Natura 2000 program) as instruments for the receipts of funds from the EU Cohesion Policy. We find that the European funds have a significant and positive effect on regional economic growth in the EU. The inter-regional spillovers in the effect of Cohesion Policy on regional growth are found to be important: most of the effect takes place outside of the recipient region rather than inside. However, there is considerable heterogeneity in the effect of Cohesion Policy across individual EU member states: the effect is stronger in the new member states, and weak or negative in the countries hit by the recent austerity measures. Finally, our results confirm the positive impact of institutional quality: improvements in economic development across the EU do not necessarily require only redistribution: institutional reform can also help boost growth performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Fidrmuc & Martin Hulényi & Olga Zajkowska, 2019. "The Elusive Quest for the Holy Grail of an Impact of EU Funds on Regional Growth," CESifo Working Paper Series 7989, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_7989
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    Cited by:

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    2. Matěj Bělín & Ondrej Buchel, 2024. "Direct and indirect effects of regional economic stimuli," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 66(4), pages 1661-1681, April.
    3. Crucitti, Francesca & Lazarou, Nicholas-Joseph & Monfort, Philippe & Salotti, Simone, 2023. "Where does the EU cohesion policy produce its benefits? A model analysis of the international spillovers generated by the policy," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(3).
    4. POP Andrada, 2020. "Eu Funding €“ A Positive Impact On Gdp?," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(1), pages 89-98, July.
    5. Cătălin Marian COSTACHE & Marcel Ioan BOLOȘ, 2024. "On European Union Economic Growth: Is Cohesion Policy Still Relevant?," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 33(2), pages 115-126, December.
    6. Tomáš Oleš & Martin Hudcovský, 2024. "Impact of Cohesion Funds on Convergence Club's Economic Growth," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(4), December.
    7. Paolo Di Caro & Ugo Fratesi, 2022. "One policy, different effects: Estimating the region‐specific impacts of EU cohesion policy," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(1), pages 307-330, January.
    8. Zareh Asatryan & Carlo Birkholz & Friedrich Heinemann, 2025. "Evidence-based policy or beauty contest? An LLM-based meta-analysis of EU cohesion policy evaluations," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 32(2), pages 625-655, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    regional aid; growth; environmental conservation; 2SLS; spatial model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C36 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation
    • F36 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies

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