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The paper attempts to recover empirical evidence related to the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) to promote growth for the management of the Recovery & Resilience Facility (RRF). We analyse the impact of the EU Cohesion Policy on regional development over the period 1986-2018, using dynamic panel data models. In doing so, we use a neoclassical Solow growth model, extending the current literature in at least three ways. First, we make use of a new dataset, which contains highly detailed data on regional commitments and payments of Structural Funds; secondly, we address the endogeneity via a difference GMM estimator; finally, we control for the spatial interdependence among regions via a Spatial Durbin model. We find that the Cohesion Policy fosters regional growth both in the short and long run, regardless of the Objective considered. The role of the business cycle in the speed of regional convergence is quantified. The funds' effectiveness is hindered during the crisis, especially in the least developed regions, partly due to lower absorptive rates. Furthermore, human capital and quality of government are crucial growth determinants necessary for improving the performance of the Structural Funds. Finally, we discuss if the combination of ESIF & RRF funds will be appropriate for accelerating the post-pandemic recovery versus the financial recession recovery.

The objective is to empirically assess the effects of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) on the regional convergence of income catching-up of the Objective 1 regions in Spain. The principal added value of the paper is that by using realized investment data, it allows comparison of the results in terms of real regional convergence of the two budgetary periods covering different phases of the business cycle and two ESIF operational programs. The panel data model's results allow recommendations to assess economic and financial adjustments in the UE and the use of the ESIF. Changes in economic cycles seem to have a significant impact on the ability of funds to contribute to the growth of the regional economy. Possible use in the Eurozone of the future Crisis Fund of the multiannual budget 2021-27. The level of indebtedness in the region has a definite adverse effect on the effectiveness of European projects. Additionally, we identify an apparent spillover effect from the funds towards other border regions on those that are formally receiving. Therefore, it is essential to be able to adapt the funds according to the phase of the business cycle. Moreover, during the downturns, to ensure their effectiveness may not be co-finance by regions.

Panel data models are estimated to highlight the income-gap as a driver of individual de-cisions to migrate. This procedure allows to testing the hypothesis that the per capita income-gap of rural spaces along with the employment rate and aging explain the fall in the population of rural villages and the concentration of population in functional urban areas (FUA). First, using panel data models, the links between rural depopulation and the income-gap are estimated with data at the municipal level. Second, the effects of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) on the convergence of income levels for rural inhabitants are evaluat

This paper focuses on the changes in farm efficiency as a tool for policy analysis. The methodology is applied to the introduction of direct payments (DP) and the price support reduction affecting large samples of individual farms with joint animal and vegetal production (comparing before and after CAP’92). The case study is justified for their relevance for Mediterranean forest and grazing land preservation in Spain. Using a non parametric method (DEA) we do not specify the production function of the farms, and can explain the impact of the direct payments on environmental adaptation and efficiency for animal orientated farms before and after the (DP) introduction in 1992 (CAP’92 reform). Even though the direct payments increased sharply after the CAP’92 reform, in general, the new direct payment system turns out to be insufficient to offset the fact that less environmentally friendly farms remain much more “efficient,” i.e. profitable for the farmer. The paper also studies the relationship of efficiency with other policy relevant factors such as economic size. The results show that after the CAP’92 reform, the subsidy schedule was even more correlated with farm size than before, which we find to be counterproductive. This research was supported by FUNCAS, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and the “Dirección General de Investigación del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología”, project number SEJ2005-08269/ECON and SEJ2004-04583/ECON.

International audience; Les auteurs présentent un modèle théorique sur les comparaisons internationales de productivités. Les productivités et le niveau des prix des outputs et des inputs des agricultures sont ensuite comparés entre les Etas-Unis et 11 pays de l’Union européenne, entre 1973 et 2002. En moyenne, les prix agricoles américains sont inférieurs de près de 30% aux prix européens, grâce à une meilleure productivité mais aussi en raison de prix plus bas des consommations intermédiaires et de la terre. Cette compétitivité de l’agriculture américaine se traduit par une meilleure rémunération du travail.