Timo Mitze (p), Jonathan Eberle , Thomas Brenner

This paper investigates the mutual impact channels of Germany’s major regional policy instrument (Gemeinschaftsaufgabe ‘Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur’, GRW) on regional economic development. Different from earlier studies which have predominately focused on a partial assessment of output or productivity effects, we explicitly endogenize the factor inputs of the underlying regional production function. This allows us to comprehensively assess the role of the GRW in driving per capita output, employment, human and physical capital intensities as well as the region’s technology level. For estimation purposes we take advantage of a large panel data set on economic conditions at the level of 258 German labor market regions in 2000-2010 and apply a vector autoregressive (VAR) model in combination with an impulse-response function (IRF) analysis. The empirical results illustrate the importance of our comprehensive research approach: In fact, we are able to identify mutual economic effects of the GRW beyond the typically identified output effects. As such, we find that GRW support to private sector and public infrastructure investments emanates significant positive effects on the regional employment rate as well as on the regional human capital intensity. The identified effects are in line with theoretical growth model predictions indicating that regional policy can increase a funded region’s employment and per capita output level through medium-run growth effects.

Marek Pieniazek (p)

The aim of the presentation is to present the scope, construction and application of indicators for monitoring of public services, prepared as part of the construction of the Public Services Monitoring System. The concept of this System is being developed by Statistics Poland and experts from the Association of Polish Cities, the Association of Polish Poviats and the Silesian Association of Municipalities and Poviats.
The system will contain information on the provision of tangible and intangible goods for residents of municipalities for which local authorities are responsible.
The indicators will enable the monitoring of six service areas - local taxes and fees; property management; roads and transportation; environmental protection; investment and construction, geodesy and cartography.

The development of indicators took place in several stages. At first, service areas have been defined. Then, public services were selected for monitoring in the service area. Four basic dimensions of the description of public services were adopted: quantity, quality, availability and cost effectiveness. They allow for a comprehensive characterization of the service provision. Dimensions will be assigned to the indicators. In the next steep was conducted a research on the needs of local government units and the analysis of the availability of data sources. Finally, indicators have been tested by working teams consisting of local government employees.

The works are carried out as part of the Public Service Monitoring System project co-financed by the European Union.

Daniel Rauhut (p), Alois Humer

During and after the financial crisis, the EU regional policy and structural funds periods of 2007-2013 and 2014+ changed focus in two ways, policy- and space-wise. The focus moved from cohesion towards competition as well as from peripheral, lagging regions to cities and agglomerations. Even if vast budget is allocated to lagging regions the place-based approach to regional development, preparing ground for smart specialisation strategies, is in effect favouring innovative, connected and networked regions and makes regional policy of that kind inefficient in lagging peripheries.The increased focus and support for cities – stimulating a polycentric urban development – is also carried forward through key EU policy documents and processes such as the Territorial Agenda 2020 and the EU Urban Agenda.
This paper aims at discussing the assumptions and postulates on regional development in the EU Cohesion Policy against regional economic theories. In more detail, consequences of cities’ and agglomerations’ centred policies for the development and growth of peripheral and lagging regions will be examined and spatial considerations for EU regional policy and structural fund period 2021+ provided.
The findings indicate large overlaps and similarities with the ‘trickle down economics’. This macro-economic theory argues that by reducing taxes on businesses and the wealthy in society as a means to stimulate business investment in the short term, society at the large will benefit in the long term. Empirical studies have however found a correlation between trickle-down economics and reduced growth as well as increasing inequalities. Translating the arguments of trickle down economics into spatial/regional context, focus on cities and agglomerations will not lead to an increased economic growth and development outside these areas. On the contrary, the gap between the prosperous centre and the lagging periphery will widen.

Emmanuel Roux (p), Jean-Christophe Dissart

The objective of this paper is to discuss how equality of territories may be integrated and implemented in the conception and planning of regional development strategies. This paper proposes a theoretical framework, based on four notions, to capture justice in a territorial perspective: equality of rights, equality of positions, equality of opportunities, capabilities of territories.

This framework is used to suggest indicators and initiatives that are likely to address territorial equality issues. More specifically, this framework is applied to the case of SRADDET (Schéma Régional d'Aménagement, de Développement Durable et d'Egalité des Territoires – Regional plan for equipment, sustainable development and equality of territories) in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region (southeastern France). This region is characterized by extreme diversity (seaside, mountain and hinterland areas, in addition to large metropolitan areas) which makes it more complex to address both shared regional development objectives and the reality of contrasted, local specificities.

From an empirical perspective, we proceeded in two stages. First, based on an analysis of words, terms and notions associated with the concepts of regional balance and regional equality, we created a typology of potential initiatives. Second, we carried out interviews with local elected officials; a workshop with agents working in regional, administrative services; and a focus group with regional stakeholders.

The main results show that 1) the notion of equality may be very divisive, 2) conceptually, it is little integrated in the representation of stakeholders (i.e. agents do not know how to address it), and 3) it is difficult to go all the way in terms of implementing actions based on equality objectives (i.e. building benchmarks enabling a monitoring of the proposed actions).

Therefore, this paper sheds light on how to address equality issues from a regional planning perspective, both from a theoretical and an application perspective. The main recommendation for public action is to improve communication channels between decision-makers and agents in charge of implementing the policies: this suggests the use of instances in which agents will have the opportunity to share perspectives and discuss policies, otherwise it is likely they will not integrate the said concept. This also questions the representations and cognitive schemes within government services, themselves related to issues of governance and the link with action.