The Lisbon Agenda and Innovation-oriented Cohesion Policy: A New Challenge for Economic Integration among the EU Regions

Wamser, Georg; Chang, Woon Nam; Schoenberg, Alina

doi:2013.28.1.37

Journal of Economic Integration 2013 March;28(1) :37-58.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11130/jei.2013.28.1.37

The Lisbon Agenda and Innovation-oriented Cohesion Policy: A New Challenge for Economic Integration among the EU Regions

Georg Wamser, Woon Nam Chang, Alina Schoenberg

University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
Ifo Institute, Munich & University of Applied Management, Erding, Germany
Bundeswehr University Munich, Neubiberg, Germany

Corresponding Author: Georg Wamser ,Tel: +49 70712975423,, Fax: +49 7071295590, Email: georg.wamser@uni-tuebingen.de.

ABSTRACT

The EU’s cohesion policy should now be confluent with the goals of the Lisbon strategy by promoting growth and employment. In this context the promotion of regional innovation systems has become important in the EU for guaranteeing long-term regional economic growth. This paper investigates the major determinants of varying degrees of innovation promotion from one region to another provided in the context of the EU’s regional support program for the periods 2000~2006 and 2007~2013. While the new innovation-oriented policy appears to be incompatible with the goal of economic convergence among European regions, our research findings further question the consistency between the cohesion policy’s objectives and its practice.

JEL Classification

O18: Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
O31: Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
O52: Europe
R11: Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
R58: Regional Development Planning and Policy

Keywords: Lisbon Agenda | Regional Innovation Network | EU Cohesion Policy

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