We present a novel approach for analyzing the effects of EU cohesion policy on local economic activity. For all municipalities in the border area of the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland, we collect project-level data on EU funding in the period between 2007 and 2013. Using night light emission data as a proxy for economic development, we show that the receipt of a higher amount of EU funding is associated with increased economic activity at the municipal level. Our paper demonstrates that remote sensing data can provide an effective way to model local economic development also in Europe, where no comprehensive cross-border data is available at such a spatially granular level.

This webinar brings together EU officials and academic researchers to discuss the contribution of EU cohesion policy to the post-pandemic recovery and impact of the Ukraine war. It will present the key actions and challenges involved in overcoming current issues and provide an opportunity for discussion and debate between the participants and presenters.

Roundtable on the 8th Cohesion report. Participation in Panel Discussion with Roberta Capello, Politecnico di Milano, Marcin Dąbrowski, TU Delft, Laura De Dominicis, EC, DG REGIO, Philip McCann, Alliance Manchester Business School. Moderator: Alessandro Rainoldi, European Commission, DG REGIO.

Participation in Panel Discussion with Sven Giegold, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economics and Climate, Berlin, and Ivailo Kalfin, Executive Director, Eurofound, Dublin. Moderation: Katharina Gnath, Bertelsmann Stiftung.

Förderung der europäischen Integration durch die Überwindung wirtschaftlicher Disparitäten

Participation in Panel Discussion