Econometric Evaluation of EU Cohesion Policy: A Survey

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to provide a fundamental review of the econometric evaluation of EU Cohesion Policy in order to shed light on the reasons for the diverging results described in Chapter 1. To be more precise, this chapter forms an introduction to the institutional background, presents the theoretical framework used to evaluate EU Cohesion Policy, discusses the main econometric issues and surveys the existing literature. Note that this chapter does not include a discussion on the question of whether or not and to what extent the Cohesion Policy may be effective from a theoretical point of view.

This chapter is based on the following joint article with Tobias Hagen: Hagen and Mohl (2011): Econometric evaluation of EU Cohesion Policy: A survey, M.N. Jovanovic (ed.): International Handbook of Economic Integration, Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, p. 343–370. An earlier version appeared as: Hagen and Mohl (2009a): Econometric Evaluation of EU Cohesion Policy: A Survey, ZEW Discussion Paper No. 09-052, Mannheim.