Agglomeration in Europe in the Context of Socio-Ecological Transition

This paper analyses the spatial distribution of economic activity in the European Union at NUTS2 level over the 2001-2010 period. The aim of the study is twofold: to provide descriptive evidence of the agglomeration distribution in Europe and its evolution over time across countries; to identify the nature of agglomeration and the factors that determine its level, with particular attention paid to the socio-ecological transformation occurring in Europe. The study concludes that: the changes in agglomeration are sensitive to demographic transformations taking place; the ecological transformation has a mixed effect, depending on each country; significant differences are observed between new and old Member States; the crisis has had a significant influence on agglomeration but only in Western Europe