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This paper investigates the relationship between economic globalization and regional inequality in a panel of 47 countries over the period 1990-2007, using a measure of globalization that distinguishes the different dimensions of economic integration. The results show that there is a positive and statistically significant association between economic globalization and the magnitude of regional disparities. Countries with a greater degree of economic integration with the rest of the world tend to register higher levels of regional inequality. This finding is robust to the inclusion of additional explanatory variables and to the choice of the specific measure used to quantify the relevance of spatial inequality within the sample countries. Our analysis also reveals that the spatial impact of economic globalization is greater in low- and middle-income countries, whose levels of regional disparities are on average significantly higher than in high-income countries.

This paper examines whether, given the increasing salience of subnational governments, political decentralisation has an impact on overall economic performance. It uses panel data analyses in order to determine the association between a number of the different indices of political decentralisation developed over the last decade and a half with two basic measures of economic performance: changes in aggregate GDP per head and the evolution of within-country territorial inequalities. The results highlight that, in the case of economic growth, the perception we may have of how political decentralisation affects economic performance is highly contingent on the index we use, with results ranging from a mildly positive to a neutral influence of political decentralisation on economic growth. For regional inequalities, political decentralisation seems to lead to a rise in disparities, regardless of how political decentralisation is measured.

Texto dispoñible en galego e español Neste traballo estúdanse as disparidades rexionais en termos de PIB por habitante na Unión Europea ampliada ao longo do período 1995-2006. Para iso combínase a información proporcionada por unha análise non paramétrica da distribución obxecto de estudo co cálculo de diferentes medidas procedentes da literatura dedicada ao estudo da desigualdade persoal da renda. Os resultados obtidos mostran unha redución das disparidades rexionais ao longo do período analizado, debido fundamentalmente á evolución experimentada polas rexións de Europa Central e Oriental durante os doce anos considerados. Así mesmo, a evidencia empírica achegada pon de manifesto a existencia simultánea de converxencia entre países e de diverxencia a nivel rexional En este trabajo se estudian las disparidades regionales en términos de PIB por habitante en la Unión Europea ampliada a lo largo del período 1995-2006. Para ello se combina la información proporcionada por un análisis no paramétrico de la distribución objeto de estudio con el cálculo de diferentes medidas procedentes de la literatura dedicada al estudio de la desigualdad personal de la renta. Los resultados obtenidos muestran una reducción de las disparidades regionales a lo largo del período analizado, debido fundamentalmente a la evolución experimentada por las regiones de Europa Central y Oriental durante los doce años considerados. Asimismo, la evidencia empírica aportada pone de manifiesto la existencia simultánea de convergencia entre países y de divergencia a nivel regional This paper examines regional disparities in GDP per capita in the enlarged European Union during the period 1995-2006. To achieve this aim, a non-parametric approach is combined with the information provided by various measures used in the literature on personal income distribution. The results show that spatial disparities have decreased over the period considered, mainly as a result of the evolution registered by the regions in Central and Eastern Europe. Furthermore, the findings in the paper reveal that this process has been compatible with the simultaneous presence of between-country convergence and within-country divergence SI

This paper examines productive specialization in the regions of the European Union over the period 1977 to 1999 using the information provided by various methodological instruments. The results obtained reveal a process of convergence in regional productive structures during the twenty-three years considered. This has been due to the behavior of regions with high levels of specialization at the start of the period, whose productive structures have tended to shift to wards the European average overtime. The analysis carried out also high lights the major role played by regional size, level of development and geographical location in explaining specialization in the European context. Finally, the empirical evidence provided suggests that changes in regional productive structures are closely linked to the evolution of the spatial distribution of per capita income in the European Union. Keywords: Specialization, economic activity, regions, European Union. JEL Code: F15, R11, R12.

The aim of this paper, which forms part of a wider research project, is to analyse changes in regional disparity in the European Union between 1977 and 1999 by calculating the level of internal and external inequality in various groupings of regions. Our calculations are based on the Theil (0) and Theil (1) indices commonly used in the literature dealing with inequality. The regions are grouped by countries, economic development level and sectoral specialisation. After observing the evolution of internal and external disparity in the different geographical groupings, we assess the impact of politics and economic development on the various outcomes.

The aim of this paper is to analyse the mobility of per capita income distribution in the European regions during the period 1977-1996. In doing so we will attempt highlight some aspects of the nature of interregional inequality. We also hope to draw inferences that might be applied by European regional policy makers. If, for example, there proves to be very little mobility, this might mean that the regional positions are consolidated. If this were the case, a belligerent regional policy could be introduced in order to reduce regional disparities. If, on the other hand, our results suggest that income variability accounts for most of the disparities, regional policy could be focused on the negative effects of economic cycles. In this case, a regional convergence policy might be made to take second place. Our methodological approach involves calculating indices commonly used in the dynamic income distribution literature, such as those of Theil, Atkinson and Shorrocks. These indices are calculated at different levels, both temporal and geographical, in order to discover different regional behaviour patterns throughout the study period.

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