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This paper aims to explore the perceptions of domestic and foreign entrepreneurs (businesspeople and/or managers) operating in Greece towards the spatial diffusion of FDI effects caused by the privatization programme implemented by the Greek government after an economic crisis. In particular, it investigates whether attracting foreign direct investors through the ongoing privatization programme could be a policy tool for the country's recovery from the prolonged 2008 global economic crisis. To that end, it presents the results of a multinomial logistic regression model based on survey data from a significant sample of domestic and foreign investors in Greece. The key finding of this study suggests that the positive effects of FDI on the recovery of Greece from the economic crisis are more likely to benefit the country's economy as a whole than only the local economy in which the FDI is located. This finding is stronger for entrepreneurs who are (moderately) optimistic about the role of the privatization programme in attracting the interest of foreign investors than others. Overall, there is evidence that FDI attraction policies can help all Greek regions to recover from an economic crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All countries implemented policies to mitigate the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and control fatalities from COVID-19. Although early actions were pivotal in reducing confirmed cases and deaths, the timing of the introduction of these policies differed from country to country. This article assesses and compares the behavior of various decentralized countries in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the timing of implementation of containment measures and viewing timeliness of adoption as denoting a country's level of responsiveness to a health crisis. Using international databases, this article finds that more decentralized countries delayed the start of containment measures. This article also finds that larger and more densely populated countries were more likely to delay implementation of these policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the geographical variations in income level and income inequality in Greece over a long time period allowing comparisons between pre- and during the economic and fiscal crisis periods. The analysis is based on a novel database that includes individual micro-data of declared and taxable income aggregated at municipal level over the period 2002–14. Results indicate that economic crisis and fiscal reforms changed substantially both inter- and intra-municipal/interpersonal income inequalities. The geographies of income inequality are subject to the period of analysis, type of municipality and level of income. The geographies of inequality question the fairness and inclusiveness of the implemented reforms during the recession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether an increase in political decentralization, which is a global trend, affects income inequality. It argues that the effect of decentralization on equality lies with the quality of governance, that is, how well the traditions and institutions of an authority in a country are exercised. Using an instrumental variables (IV)/two-stage least squares (2SLS) method, this paper shows that an increase in decentralization reduces inequality. However, this reduction is stronger for countries with a relatively low quality of governance, possibly because private investments in these countries reduce income inequality. A policy implication is that institutional-specific decentralization strategies can reduce inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9787.2008.00602.x Byline: Andres Rodriguez-Pose (1), Vassilis Tselios (2) Abstract: ABSTRACT. This paper provides an empirical study of the determinants of income inequality across regions of the EU. Using the European Community Household Panel dataset for 102 regions over the period 1995-2000, it analyses how microeconomic changes in human capital distribution affect income inequality for the population as a whole and for normally working people. The different static and dynamic panel data analyses conducted reveal that the relationship between income per capita and income inequality, as well as between a good human capital endowment and income inequality is positive. High levels of inequality in educational attainment are also associated with higher income inequality. The above results are robust to changes in the definition of income distribution and may be interpreted as a sign of the responsiveness of the EU labor market to differences in qualifications and skills. Other results indicate that population ageing, female participation in the labor force, urbanization, agriculture, and industry are negatively associated to income inequality, while unemployment and the presence of a strong financial sector positively affect inequality. Finally, income inequality is lower in social-democratic welfare states, in Protestant areas, and in regions with Nordic family structures. Author Affiliation: (1)Department of Geography and Environment and Spatial Economics Research Centre, London School of Economics, Houghton St, London WC2A 2AE, United Kingdom. E-mail:a.rodriguez-pose@lse.ac.uk (2)Department of Geography and Environment and Spatial Economics Research Centre, London School of Economics, Houghton St, London WC2A 2AE, United Kingdom. E-mail:v.tselios@lse.ac.uk Article History: Received: July 2007; revised: March 2008; accepted: July 2008.

Using a unique data set of annual nighttime satellite images from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's Operational Linescan System, this article, under the assumption that the density of sum of lights is a proxy for the concentration of populations and economic activities, provides empirically based evidence on the extent of concentration, growth and convergence in Europe between 1992 and 2012. We find that the concentration of populations and economic activities was associated with the level, density and growth of economic factors. Decomposing these economic factors, the agricultural sector, which was a sector resilient to economic recession, seems to have been the key determinant of concentration. Finally, there is strong evidence of divergence in concentration, implying that socioeconomic activities will continue to be concentrated in European urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sets out to estimate the contribution of European Union co-financed and nationally funded public investment expenditures to regional growth in Greece during the period 2000–14. The results are sensitive to the time period and the geographical level of the interventions. While nationally funded projects boosted the growth performance of the regions before the eruption of the economic crisis, there is no indication that the European Union co-financed projects have led to increased growth. The results question the additionality and coordination between European Union Cohesion Policy and the domestic regional policies for the promotion of regional growth in the less well-off regions of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]