Regional inequality in the process of economic growth has recently been a popular topic. This paper creatively proposes contribution decomposition methods to divide various regions' contributions into economic contribution and population contribution. The methods consider not only economic growth but also population change, which may be more effective than the traditional method that uses the per capita GDP (gross domestic product) as its single measurement indicator. Moreover, the objective is to take a step forward and reveal the spatio‐temporal evolution characteristics of regional disparities by integrating barycentre model and economic development equilibrium model. Lastly, the applicability of the research method proposed in this paper is verified by a case study of Jiangsu province, China; the results show a new regional economic pattern in Jiangsu province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
In this paper we argue that it is necessary to apply economic impact models in smart specialization policy in order to come up with reliable economic impact estimations. Solutions suggested in the smart specialization (S3) literature for economic impact assessments cover the economic effects only partially. To estimate the impacts in the industrial, regional and national dimensions in their entirety the application of specifically designed economic models becomes necessary. We extended the geographic macro and regional (GMR)‐Hungary policy impact model with additional features to make this model applicable for S3 economic impact estimations. In our policy simulations we illustrate how the application of this model helps policy‐makers in the prioritization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]