Suchergebnisse

The paper contributes to the existing literature on the EU's Cohesion Policy outcomes by extending the conditional beta-convergence model with a 3-way multiplicative term to examine the mediating effects of the Cohesion Policy, institutional quality, and their interaction on regional convergence. The empirical analysis based on conditional slope coefficients and conditional standard errors provides evidence that both the mediating factors under consideration contribute positively to boosting regional convergence in the EU at the NUTS 2 and 3 disaggregation level, but with much bigger success over the 2007–2013 programming period compared to the previous one. Moreover, Cohesion Policy and institutional quality act as substituting rather than complementary mediating factors.

The paper contributes to the existing literature on the EU's Cohesion Policy outcomes by extending the conditional beta-convergence model with a 3-way multiplicative term to examine the mediating effects of the Cohesion Policy, institutional quality, and their interaction on regional convergence. The empirical analysis based on conditional slope coefficients and conditional standard errors provides evidence that both the mediating factors under consideration contribute positively to boosting regional convergence in the EU at the NUTS 2 and 3 disaggregation level, but with much bigger success over the 2007–2013 programming period compared to the previous one. Moreover, Cohesion Policy and institutional quality act as substituting rather than complementary mediating factors.

Assessing the effect of regional financial support provided by the European Union (EU), research examines whether support promotes growth, increases productivity and creates new jobs. Scientific studies rarely discuss the effect of support in the light of the geography of development disparities despite the fact that cohesion is the ultimate goal of the EU's regional policy. Moreover, previous contributions show the importance of factors that condition the effect of support, thus raising the question of the heterogeneity of effects across regions. In the light of these facts, this paper aims to propose a model that supplements a new strand of literature based on a quasi-experimental approach and to assess the effect of support on territorial disparities capturing its heterogeneity. An empirical application is based on NUTS 3 level data over the 2000 – 2006 programming period (PP) and an estimation of the effects on the dynamics of disparities between support beneficiaries and developed regions. Results show that support diminishes disparities and that the significance and size of the effect are highly conditioned on the institutional quality in the region.

Significant disparities still exist between regions of the European Union, even though substantial Cohesion investments are directed to address this issue. To adjust the Cohesion Policy (CP), researchers assess the returns of the CP, but almost all studies are carried out at NUTS1&2 or a country level, even though significant disparities occur at NUTS3 level. Moreover, just a few studies examine the non-linear effects of the CP, and none of them covers the NUTS3 disaggregation level. Filling the gap of previous contributions, the paper aims to investigate convergence outcomes of the CP at NUTS2&3 level and to identify whether the marginal effect of the CP is diminishing. The estimation strategy is based on the modified specification of the difference-in-differences estimator that has an advantage while examining policy effects, using non-experimental data. Based on research findings, the essential guidelines for the improvement of the CP can be drawn up: i) the distribution policy of Cohesion investments should focus on smaller territorial units to reduce disparities at NUTS3 level; ii) the intensity of the CP's transfers has to be optimised because excessive intensity does not provide a positive return.

Significant disparities still exist between regions of the European Union, even though substantial Cohesion investments are directed to address this issue. To adjust the Cohesion Policy (CP), researchers assess the returns of the CP, but almost all studies are carried out at NUTS1&2 or a country level, even though significant disparities occur at NUTS3 level. Moreover, just a few studies examine the non-linear effects of the CP, and none of them covers the NUTS3 disaggregation level. Filling the gap of previous contributions, the paper aims to investigate convergence outcomes of the CP at NUTS2&3 level and to identify whether the marginal effect of the CP is diminishing. The estimation strategy is based on the modified specification of the difference-in-differences estimator that has an advantage while examining policy effects, using non-experimental data. Based on research findings, the essential guidelines for the improvement of the CP can be drawn up: i) the distribution policy of Cohesion investments should focus on smaller territorial units to reduce disparities at NUTS3 level; ii) the intensity of the CP's transfers has to be optimised because excessive intensity does not provide a positive return.

Higher crime rates lead to the increasing fear and anxiety in society and disturb the social structure and harmony in the country. In the last decades, many scientists depict a decrease in economic factors, such as GDP per capita, unemployment rate, poverty, etc. as the primary drivers of crime both in developed and in developing countries. Even during the periods of economic crises, crime rates in the European Union (EU) continued to either decline or remain the same, thus bringing into question the impact of economic factors on crime rates in the EU. The paper examines the impact of changing economic conditions on crime rates in EU countries, employing nowadays vastly used methods in economics to address endogeneity. The aim of the paper is to empirically estimate the relationship between crime rates and economic factors, using previously developed methods. After a series of robustness checks, estimations did not provide evidence of a significant relationship between economic conditions and crime rates over the last decade in EU countries, except for homicides in some model specifications.

Higher crime rates lead to the increasing fear and anxiety in society and disturb the social structure and harmony in the country. In the last decades, many scientists depict a decrease in economic factors, such as GDP per capita, unemployment rate, poverty, etc. as the primary drivers of crime both in developed and in developing countries. Even during the periods of economic crises, crime rates in the European Union (EU) continued to either decline or remain the same, thus bringing into question the impact of economic factors on crime rates in the EU. The paper examines the impact of changing economic conditions on crime rates in EU countries, employing nowadays vastly used methods in economics to address endogeneity. The aim of the paper is to empirically estimate the relationship between crime rates and economic factors, using previously developed methods. After a series of robustness checks, estimations did not provide evidence of a significant relationship between economic conditions and crime rates over the last decade in EU countries, except for homicides in some model specifications.

Povećanje stope kriminala dovodi do povećanja osjećaja straha i tjeskobe u društvu i narušavanja društvenog poretka i sklada u zemlji. U posljednjim desetljećima mnogi znanstvenici opisuju pad gospodarskih čimbenika kao što su BDP po glavi stanovnika, stope nezaposlenosti, siromaštvo itd., kao primarni pokretači kriminala kako u razvijenim tako i u zemljama u razvoju. Čak i tijekom razdoblja gospodarskih kriza, stopa kriminala u Europskoj uniji (EU) nastavila je opadati ili ostaje ista, dovodeći u pitanje utjecaj ekonomskih čimbenika na stopu kriminala u EU. U radu se ispituje utjecaj promjenjivih gospodarskih uvjeta na stopu kriminala u zemljama EU-a uz primjenu danas široko korištenih ekonomskih metoda za rješavanje problema endogenosti. Cilj je rada empirijski procijeniti odnos između stope kriminala i ekonomskih čimbenika, koristeći prethodno razvijene metode. Nakon niza provjera robusnosti, procjene nisu pružile dokaz značajne povezanosti između ekonomskih uvjeta i stope kriminala tijekom posljednjeg desetljeća u zemljama EU-a, osim ubojstava u nekim specifikacijama modela. ; Higher crime rates lead to the increasing fear and anxiety in society and disturb the social structure and harmony in the country. In the last decades, many scientists depict a decrease in economic factors, such as GDP per capita, unemployment rate, poverty, etc. as the primary drivers of crime both in developed and in developing countries. Even during the periods of economic crises, crime rates in the European Union (EU) continued to either decline or remain the same, thus bringing into question the impact of economic factors on crime rates in the EU. The paper examines the impact of changing economic conditions on crime rates in EU countries, employing nowadays vastly used methods in economics to address endogeneity. The aim of the paper is to empirically estimate the relationship between crime rates and economic factors, using previously developed methods. After a series of robustness checks, estimations did not provide evidence of a significant relationship between economic conditions and crime rates over the last decade in EU countries, except for homicides in some model specifications.

While countries' social and economic well-being depends on various factors, recent research emphasises the importance of transport and ICT infrastructure. To reduce the welfare differences among EU countries, the European Commission and governments have to ensure the convergence of this infrastructure as well. Previous studies have shown that convergence is taking place at the national level, however the situation at the regional level still needs to be determined. In light of this, the study examines transport and ICT infrastructure convergence in EU member states and NUTS 2 regions at different periods. The research methodology is based on the neoclassical approach of convergence, i.e., β-convergence model presented by Barro and Sala-i-Martin (1992). This approach is deemed most appropriate for determining whether the disparities in terms of infrastructure among EU members and regions are diminishing. Research findings present clear evidence of absolute β-convergence in infrastructure development across EU member states and NUTS 2 regions. Strong evidence of transport convergence is identified among EU member states and among NUTS 2 regions, however, it is observed only in one out of the three types of infrastructure. In contrast, the robust evidence of ICT infrastructure convergence is prominent across EU countries and NUTS 2 regions, showcasing substantial reductions in disparities.

We are aiming to evaluate the impact of the tax burden on economic growth in the EU 28 and also the lagging impact of the tax burden. The analysis is based on the multivariate regression model in the general country group as well as in the group of less developed countries of the EU, assessing the possible differences. The research results confirm the differences in impact in the analyzed country groups – the higher impact of the tax burden on the economic growth is identified in the group of less developed countries compared with the general group of the 28 EU countries.

Analysing papers that reveal by decomposing territorial inequalities in the EU that the share of disparities attributed to the NUTS 3 level has increased over the last 20 years, this paper aims to examine to what extent the financial support in 2000–2006 from ERDF and CF, which are the main regional policy tools but mainly are directed to address the issues arising at the NUTS 2 level, contributed to supporting convergence at the NUTS 3 level. Our research strategy relies on combining a conditional β-convergence model and a difference-in-differences (DiD) estimator. Estimations are generated for four alternative post-policy periods, two ways to measure policy intervention and for different funds as well as different expenditure categories. Our research results bring to light the question of potential negative outcomes of the EU's existing regional policy since the policy that is focused on the NUTS 2 level is enlarging imbalances within these regions, i.e., among NUTS 3 regions.

Analysing papers that reveal by decomposing territorial inequalities in the EU that the share of disparities attributed to the NUTS 3 level has increased over the last 20 years, this paper aims to examine to what extent the financial support in 2000–2006 from ERDF and CF, which are the main regional policy tools but mainly are directed to address the issues arising at the NUTS 2 level, contributed to supporting convergence at the NUTS 3 level. Our research strategy relies on combining a conditional β-convergence model and a difference-in-differences (DiD) estimator. Estimations are generated for four alternative post-policy periods, two ways to measure policy intervention and for different funds as well as different expenditure categories. Our research results bring to light the question of potential negative outcomes of the EU's existing regional policy since the policy that is focused on the NUTS 2 level is enlarging imbalances within these regions, i.e., among NUTS 3 regions.