Infrastructure Policies and Regional Convergence in the EU-27

This book focuses on the issue of regional convergence in the EU-27 countries over the period of time 2002-2006. It aims to examine the European fastest and slowest converging regions and the future evolution of the convergence process. A comparison of a series of empirical studies, growth theories and models is carried out. The main purpose of this work is to investigate whether or not infrastructure endowments (telecommunications, transport and education infrastructure) have contributed to speed up regional growth and convergence and consequently reduce regional inequalities over the period taken into account (2002-2006). This analysis is carried out by using a simple reduced form and an accurate structural form model. From this assessment significant policy implications can be drawn.