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Andrés
Rodríguez-Pose Tel: +44 (0)20
7955 7971 E-mail:
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Research in English:
Abstract: This paper presents an examination of the possible correlation between rising income inequalities at the regional level and widespread devolutionary initiatives worldwide. When the responsibility- and resource-based facets of decentralisation are taken together, a marked congruency is evident between the two trends. While various spatial economic forces promote the emergence of core and peripheral regions, devolution, by establishing their autonomy, allows these forces a greater impact. We argue that this is because decentralisation initiatives carry with them implicit fiscal, political and administrative costs, which fall more heavily upon those regions with limited adjustment capacities, resulting in differential rates at which regions can capitalise upon the opportunities offered by devolution. The global tendency towards devolution therefore reflects a subtle, but profound, renunciation of the traditional equalisation role of national government, in favour of conditions fostering economic and public competition, and leading to greater development of initially rich and powerful regions to the detriment of poorer areas (pdf).
Abstract: European
regional support has grown in parallel with European integration. The funds
targeted at achieving greater economic and social cohesion and reducing disparities
within the European Union (EU) have more than doubled in relative terms since
the end of the 1980s, making development policies the second most important
policy area in the EU. The majority of the development funds have been
earmarked for Objective 1 regions, i.e. regions whose GDP per capita is below
the 75% threshold of the EU average. However, the European development
policies have come under increasing criticism based on two facts: the lack of
upward mobility of assisted regions and the absence of regional convergence.
This paper assesses, using cross-sectional and panel data analyses, the
failure so far of European development policies to deliver greater economic
and social cohesion by examining how European Structural Fund support is allocated
among different development axes in Objective 1 regions. We find that,
despite the concentration of development funds on infrastructure and, to a
lesser extent, on business support, the returns to commitments on these axes
are not significant. Support to agriculture has short-term positive effects
on growth, but these wane quickly, and only investment in education and human
capital – which only represents about one eight of the total commitments –
has medium-term positive and significant returns (pdf).
Abstract: Globalisation has been accompanied by an equally global tendency towards devolution of authority and resources from nation-states to regions and localities that takes on various forms, depending upon which actors are driving decentralisation efforts. The existence of a general trend towards devolution also has significant implications for efficiency, equity, and administration. This paper outlines first the general drive towards devolution and proceeds to examine which countries are experiencing which forms of decentralisation. A theoretical argument emphasising the role of governmental legitimacy across various tiers of government is used to explain the diversity of devolution initiatives, drawing on examples, which include Brazil and Mexico, India and China, the US and some European countries. Having supported our model of decentralisation, the paper then examines the implications of the widespread downward transfer of powers towards regions. Some of the less widely discussed pitfalls of decentralisation are presented and caution in promoting devolutionary efforts is the prescription of this paper (pdf).
Abstract: The paper analyses the impact trade liberalisation and economic integration have had on regional growth and regional disparities in Mexico over the last two decades. It is highlighted that the passage from an import substitution system to membership of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) first, and to economic integration in the North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA) later, have led to greater concentration of economic activity and territorial polarisation. The analysis also shows that trade liberalisation and economic integration have profoundly altered the factors associated with regional per capita economic growth. Regional growth in the import substitution period was mainly linked to oil exports, migration and distance to Mexico City. During the GATT period migration was still the main determinant, but oil exports and distance to Mexico City were no longer significant. Finally membership of NAFTA led to a shift in the relevant market from Mexico City to the US and factors such as the endowment of human capital start to become significant (pdf).
Abstract: Small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) are increasingly regarded as engines of innovative activity, especially in some of the most dynamic local production systems in Western Europe. However, most SMEs lack the adequate resources to conduct R&D, which is traditionally considered as the main source of innovation. This apparent contradiction has induced several researchers to try to answer the question of where do SMEs get their knowledge inputs from. This literature, which has tended to use patents as a proxy for public research, has found that SMEs are particularly sensitive to spillovers from university and public research. In this paper we readdress this question by using a bibliometric indicator of public research output, instead of patents, for 99 Italian provinces during the 1990s. The results highlight that there is a strong geographical connection between the territorial concentration of SMEs and public research and that this connection is affected by firm size (pdf).
Last updated 10/01/2006 |
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