Regional disparities in the European Union and the enlargement process: an exploratory spatial data analysis, 1995–2000

published on lineJEL Classification O18 - O47 - O52 - R11 - R12A previous version of this paper was presented at the 3rd Spatial Econometrics Workshop in Strasbourg, June 9, 2004 and at the XLth Conference of the French Speaking Regional Science Association, Brussels, September 1–3, 2004International audienceThe aim of this paper is to study the space–time dynamics of European regional per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in the perspective of the enlargement of the European Union using exploratory spatial data analysis. We find strong evidence of global and local spatial autocorrelation as well as spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of regional per capita GDP in a sample of 258 European regions including regions from acceding and candidate European countries over the period 1995–2000. However, contrary to previous results obtained in the literature highlighting a North–South polarization scheme, the enlargement process leads to a new North–West–East polarization scheme. The economic dynamism of EU15 regions and acceding or candidate regions is also investigated by exploring the spatial pattern of regional growth. Implications for regional development and cohesion policies are finally suggested