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Assessing the impact of EU Cohesion Policy: What can economic models tell us?

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  • John Bradley

    (EMDS - Economic Modelling and Development Strategies)

  • Gerhard Untiedt

    (GEFRA - Gesellschaft fuer Finanz- und Regionalanalysen)

Abstract

The challenge of evaluating the impacts of cohesion policy lies in the complexity of the public policy instruments being used in terms of individual projects, wider measures, operational programmes and the entire investment package taken as a whole. The goal of cohesion policy – to promote accelerated growth and development in lagging EU member states and regions, i.e. development at the aggregate macroeconomic level – is ambitious and theevaluation of its likely impacts draws on economic and other research that is still at an early stage of evolution. The context within which cohesion policy is designed, implemented and evaluated is also complex and this should serve as a warning against simplistic evaluations and premature judgements. In the course of cohesion policy impact evaluation there are really only two crucial decisions to be taken. First, do you need to construct an explicit policy counterfactual? Second, if the answer is “yes”, how does one define thecounterfactual? If one wishes to identify the specific contribution of a policy action, it would be difficult to answer other than “yes” to the first question. But there are a range of possible answers to the second question.

Suggested Citation

  • John Bradley & Gerhard Untiedt, 2012. "Assessing the impact of EU Cohesion Policy: What can economic models tell us?," HERMIN Economic Papers 2-2012, HERMIN.
    • Handle: RePEc:hrm:wpaper:2-2012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Roberta Capello & Camilla Lenzi, 2016. "Relevance and utility of European Union research, technological development and innovation policies for a smart growth," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 34(1), pages 52-72, February.
    2. Roberta Capello & Camilla Lenzi, 2015. "Una valutazione della rilevanza e utilit? delle politiche di Ricerca e sviluppo tecnologico dell?Unione Europea," SCIENZE REGIONALI, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2015(3 Suppl.), pages 13-36.
    3. Bergin, Adele & Conefrey, Thomas & FitzGerald, John & Kearney, Ide & Znuderl, Nusa, 2013. "The HERMES-13 macroeconomic model of the Irish economy," Papers WP460, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    4. Dumitru BELDIMAN & Alia Gabriela DUȚĂ, 2020. "Possibilities to Quantify the Impact of Accessing Structural Funds and Cohesion Using Econometric Models," Finante - provocarile viitorului (Finance - Challenges of the Future), University of Craiova, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 1(22), pages 21-33, November.
    5. FitzGerald, John & Kearney, Ide & Bergin, Adele & Conefrey, Thomas & Duffy, David & Timoney, Kevin & Znuderl, Nusa, 2013. "Medium-Term Review: 2013-2020, No. 12," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number MTR12, June.
    6. Mario Fortuna & Francisco Silva & Ana Medeiros, 2016. "A CGE approach to measuring the impacts of EU structural funds in a small open economy," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(3), pages 507-538, August.
    7. Filip Hruza & Stanislav Volcík & Jan Žácek, 2019. "The Impact of EU Funds on Regional Economic Growth of the Czech Republic," Czech Journal of Economics and Finance (Finance a uver), Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, vol. 69(1), pages 76-94, February.

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