A geography of multidimensional inequalities in the european union

SOCIAL CAPITAL AND INEQUALITIES IN THE EU REGIONS Abstract: This paper focuses on the interactions between social capital and production structure in their relation with regional inequality. Combining survey data with available regional databases for the EU15, it aims at providing a panel data analysis of multidimensional inequalities based on the idea that social capital is a fundamental factor determining its regional levels, along with the economic specialisation of regions. Results confirm an inverse relation between inequality and social capital. At the same time, they highlight the positive impact of production clusters on the regional environment. Findings suggest that the joint effect of predictors is ambiguous though, and may so be dependent on the different sorts of local specialisation and social capital endowment. Keywords: European Union, inequality, region, production specialisation, social capital.A MULTIDIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE EU REGIONAL INEQUALITIES Abstract: This article illustrates the steps followed to construct a measure that accounts for multidimensional inequality across European regions in terms of human development. First, a multidimensional index to explore the between inequalities across regions has been produced. Referring to UNDP updated methodology (2015) and integrating it with the European Commission contributions (2011, 2014), a Human Development Index has been calculated for 205 regions in the European Union, within the span of time from 2000 to 2011. These estimates have then been adapted to inequality, based on intra-regional distribution of selected variables following the UNDP methodology to calculate an Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index. This allowed to explore how the human development pattern changes when accounting for within inequalities, and to estimate the Loss in potential human development due to inequality in the society. The latter can serve as a measure for multidimensional inequality. Results show a generally increased level of human development achievements despite a widespread persistent level of inequalities in its distribution, as well as a spatial connotation of both dynamics. Keywords: Europe, human development economics, inequality, multidimensional, regional.EXPLORING THE SPATIAL CONTEXT: ECONOMIC SPECIALISATION AND INEQUALITY Abstract: This paper provides an explorative analysis of regional characteristics relevant in the study of spatial disparities. Considering the economic production specialisations of regions and characteristics of their employment dynamics, it aims at describing the regional production structure and its spatial distribution within the EU15. Regional databases for 205 EU regions have been reviewed. Synthetic indicators of local production structures have been obtained through Principal Component Analyses. Spatial distribution of obtained measures has been compared to a previous estimation of multidimensional inequalities across the same regions. Findings show how lower levels of inequality are present in regions with stronger labour markets. At the same time, they appear to be the more economically productive and industrially diversified. Results suggest that different social and institutional settings may be the key for both economic and social development of European regions. Keywords: European Union, industrial clusters, inequality, production structure, region