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EU enlargement and convergence: Does market access matter?

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  • Niebuhr, Annekatrin
  • Schlitte, Friso

Abstract

Economic integration in Europe has been accompanied by concerns about the impact of integration on regional disparities in the EU. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of the most recent EU enlargement on convergence among countries and regions in the EU27. Departing from a new economic geography framework, we focus on integration effects caused by changes in market access released by the reduction of trade impediments. Special attention is paid to the catching-up process of the new member states and the development of regional disparities within the Eastern European countries. The results point to a catching-up process of the new member states. However, at the same time regional disparities within the NMS increase. Changes in market access seem to foster these processes at the national and regional level since the Eastern European countries achieve highest growth of market potentials due to declining barriers to trade. Moreover, the more prosperous regions in Eastern Europe realize the strongest benefits. However, taking these integration effects into account does not significantly alter the findings of our convergence analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Niebuhr, Annekatrin & Schlitte, Friso, 2008. "EU enlargement and convergence: Does market access matter?," HWWI Research Papers 1-16, Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:hwwirp:1-16
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    Cited by:

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    2. Johanna Vogel, 2012. "Agglomeration and Growth: Evidence from the Regions of Central and Eastern Europe," ERSA conference papers ersa12p1089, European Regional Science Association.
    3. Dahl, Juliana, 2013. "Innovation and growth in regions with specific geographical features," Kiel Advanced Studies Working Papers 463, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    4. Vassilis Monastiriotis, 2014. "Regional Growth and National Development: Transition in Central and Eastern Europe and the Regional Kuznets Curve in the East and the West," Spatial Economic Analysis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(2), pages 142-161, June.
    5. Dogaru, Teodora & Burger, Martijn & van Oort, Frank & Karreman, Bas, 2014. "The Geography of Multinational Corporations in CEE Countries: Perspectives for Second-Tier City Regions and European Cohesion Policy," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 29, pages 193-214.
    6. Matkowski, Zbigniew & Prochniak, Mariusz & Rapacki, Ryszard, 2016. "Real Income Convergence between Central Eastern and Western Europe: Past, Present, and Prospects," EconStor Conference Papers 146992, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Integration; market access; EU enlargement; convergence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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