Roberta Capello , Andrea Caragliu (p)

This paper presents the fourth generation of the macroeconometric regional growth model called MAcroeconomic, Sectoral, Social, Territorial Model (MASST). In fact, the recent economic downturn, that hit EU28 countries in 2008, and lasted well into 2014, has prompted several research questions that need to be addressed on the basis of a sound conceptual toolbox.
The model’s main conceptual innovations with respect to the previous version can be found in both the regional and the macroeconomic sub-models. On the one hand, MASST4 has been conceived in order to strengthen the relations between macroeconomic and territorial determinants of regional growth. While prior econometric models focus more on either aspect, MASST4 strives to merge these two conceptual branches together, by broadening the scope of the endogenous territorial features of MASST3, and merging them with the macroeconomic ones. As a result, traditional territorial growth determinants, such as agglomeration economies, simultaneously activate macroeconomic effects and mediate macroeconomic growth impacts.
On the other hand, within the macroeconomic sub-model, the recent economic downturn has elicited a major upgrade of the model that is not limited to a longer time period being analyzed. In fact, a longer time series allows to take into account the structural changes taking place in EU economies as a consequence of the recent crisis. While prior to the crisis EU economies were characterized by converging growth trajectories, the great contraction has caused divergence along many economic features. Industrial specialization patterns display significant heterogeneity; post-crisis growth of intellectual professions has continued unabated; regional innovative activity shows significant territorial variety; and, consequently, so do economic growth rates.
The MASST4 model now allows to capture the new emerging structural trends within a theoretically coherent and empirically sound structure, thanks to its three time periods panel structure: a pre-crisis period (1995-2007), a crisis period (2008-2012) and a post-crisis period (2013-2015) for both the national and regional part of the model. The model is a tool to develop scenarios on the future growth trajectories of European regions: in the way the model is structured, both national specificities and regional heterogeneity in the way out of the crisis play a crucial role.

Mihaela-Nona Chilian (p), Marioara Iordan

Liveability generally describes framework conditions of a decent life for all the inhabitants of places, regions and communities. Thus, the dimensions that need to be taken into account are physical (such as lodging and transport infrastructure), economic (such as business structure and employability), social (such as health and education amenities and state of inclusion), demographical (such ageing and migration), environmental (such as pollution and natural resource depletion) and cultural (such as ethnic diversity and cultural heritage). Worldwide, many international organizations and university research teams have developed a series of aggregate/composite indicators to highlight especially the liveability of world or a nation’s main towns, on its own or in a broader (such as well-being or quality of life) context (EIU Liveability Index, Happy Planet Index, Quality of Life Index, Most Liveable Cities Index, Mercer Quality of Life Index, Global Liveability Ranking, etc.). The results of such rankings and studies primarily rank the towns/regions and reveal the trends on shorter or longer periods, but more detailed factor-level analyses highlight problem areas that require intervention for improvement, such as the public health and infrastructure situation, the quality of economic environment, the ability to attract and retain people and talents, or the ageing impacts.
In such a context, the paper attempts an analysis of Romanian regions liveability, based on a composite index that makes use of the relevant statistical data available at a more detailed territorial level, for both urban and rural communities. Complementarily, growth indicators available at a more aggregated territorial level are also used to show the background of liveability in the Romanian regions, especially over the last decade since the country’s accession to the EU. The results reveal different background and/or forefront pictures for different types of communities: municipalities, towns and villages. All these call for both general regional policies and place-based policies, and for increased medium and long term commitment of central, regional and local governments, of companies and people living in different communities towards turning the policies alive and the places liveable indeed.

Simona Curpan (p), Liviu Rancioaga (p)

Please, see extended abstract

Andreas P. Cornett (p)

Centrifugal and centripetal forces have through the course of history influenced the distribution of economic activities and the spatial development of regions, as well as the distribution of wealth, internationally as well as within countries or regions. Consequently, alterations of the inter- and intraregional balance are not a new phenomenon, but it seems that the speed of changes has increased during the last decades.
The purpose of the project presented is to shed light on this process based on a long-term study of European as well as national data on economic convergence and divergence. Furthermore, an attempt is made to and provide a comprehensive assessment two research questions. The first RQ deals with the hypothesis that predominantly economic drivers of divergence and spatial change are at work on the international (global) level. On the regional (European) and national level political and institutional factors becomes pivotal (second RQ).
The first part of the paper provides a brief overview of the general pattern of regional development in Europe with special attention on two aspects; the urban-rural dimension and the center-periphery cleavages.
The second main section comprises an overview of the central theoretical concepts in the field. This part is based on a review of classical and more recent literature and reports from international organization (i.e. EU, OECD etc.) as well as national sources. The aim is identifying the main drivers of the identified trends.
The third part is digging deeper into the long and short term alterations, with special attention on the urban rural dimension and the center periphery cleavage. The first is mainly analyzes in a national context, the last in an international/European framework. The data are analyzed longitudinal as well as cross-sectoral aiming at to identify and evaluate the turning points of long and short term trends.
The final section summarizes the results and provides a first assessment of the research questions concerning the analyzed dimensions (urban/rural and center/periphery).