From convergence to divergence: structural change and the spatial distribution of economic activity in the EU

The classes will be conducted by a visiting scholar prof. Eleonora Cutrini from University of Macerata, Italy. The course will be coordinated by an onsite lecturer – mgr Maria Kubara, while the whole class material will be delivered by the visiting professor.

The classes will be conducted by a visiting scholar prof. Eleonora Cutrini from University of Macerata, Italy. The course will be coordinated by an onsite lecturer – mgr Maria Kubara, while the whole class material will be delivered by the visiting professor.

The course will be taught in an intensive workshop setting over the course of two weeks at the end of May and the beginning of June (daily meetings between 26 May 2025 – 6 June 2025, 3 didactic hours each day). The students are asked to bring their own laptops RStudio Desktop installed in order to take active part in the practical live code exercises discussed during the class.

(tylko po angielsku)

The classes will be conducted by a visiting scholar prof. Eleonora Cutrini from University of Macerata, Italy. The course will be coordinated by an onsite lecturer – mgr Maria Kubara, while the whole class material will be delivered by the visiting professor.

The course will be taught in an intensive workshop setting over the course of two weeks at the end of May and the beginning of June (daily meetings between 26 May 2025 – 6 June 2025, 3 didactic hours each day). The students are asked to bring their own laptops with R v.3.3.0+ and RStudio Desktop installed in order to take active part in the practical live code exercises discussed during the class.

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Instructor:

Eleonora Cutrini

University of Macerata, Italy

eleonora.cutrini@unimc.it

The course is structured as an intensive 30-hours class over two last weeks of the semester, Monday through Friday, 3 didactic hours a day (26 May 2025 – 6 June 2025).

This course introduces students to the basic methods to evaluate the spatial distribution of economic activities and regional economic convergence with a focus on the empirical evidence in Europe.

First, the course describes the data and give some idea of the rich spatial data sets that is available in the European Union. Second, the aim is to present descriptive evidence on the location of manufacturing and service activities and to consider how these location patterns are changing over time. Third, the course presents the methods to detect global and club convergence and evaluate the conditioning factors behind the differential regional development patterns within the European Union, with illustrative examples based on data at the NUTS-2 and NUTS 3 levels.

The course can be divided in two parts:

1. From convergence to divergence: a European perspective

2. Location patterns in Europe: theoretical predictions, empirical evidence and measurement issues

Week #1 From convergence to divergence: a European perspective

• Basic definitions: Absolute, conditional and club convergence

• How to empirically measure convergence

• Evidence for United States, Japan and Europe

• Replication exercises: Beta-Convergence, Sigma-Convergence and Club convergence in Europe

Week #2 Location patterns in Europe: theoretical predictions, empirical evidence and measurement issues

• Economic integration and the geography of economic activities: theoretical predictions and empirical evidence

• How to measure spatial concentration, regional specialization and overall localization

• Convergence clubs and heterogenous structural change in the European Union

• Regional disparities in the European Union and the quality of local institutions

• Applications with NUTS 2- NUTS 3 data

Literature:

- Cutrini, E., & Mendez, C. (2023). Convergence clubs and spatial structural change in the European Union. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 67, 167-181.

- Ciffolilli, A., Cutrini, E., & Pompili, M. (2019). Do European Funds support the formation of firms? New evidence from Italy. Regional Science Policy & Practice, 11(3), 549-570.

Knowledge and Understanding: Upon successful completion of the course, students will have gained an understanding of the spatial distribution of economic activity in the European Union, key issues related to cohesion and convergence.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding: To give students familiarity with a range of basic methodological tools for detecting club convergence, analyzing the spatial concentration of economic activities and the specialization of regions and countries. To show students the usefulness of simple analytical models in understanding the relevant aspects of European integration and regional development.

Making Judgements: What is learned can be used by students to assess critically the activity and the decisions of national and European policy makers.

Communication Skills: learn how to present facts and evidence in a comprehensive manner and communicate knowledge and rationale to specialists and non-specialized audiences.

Learning Skills: The course aims at providing students with the tools necessary for future learning. At the end of the course students are expected to be able to read and understand reports, scientific articles and databases. Students are also expected to be develop autonomous learning abilities.

The final grade will be based on the exam / project result.