We propose a semi-parametric spatial auto-covariance specification of the growth model to examine the growth behaviour of European regions in the period 1988-2000. This specification simultaneously takes account of the problems of non-linearities and spatial dependence. We obtain two main...

In this paper, we analyze the evolution of the convergence process between 145 European regions over the period 1980-1999. In that purpose, we use the formal tools of spatial econometrics to identify and include the relevant spatial effects in the estimation of the appropriate conditional...

Spatial issues have received renewed interest in economics following the development of the new economic geography. At the same time, there is a general concern that the process of European integration would lead to higher regional specialisation making regions more prone to adverse shocks and...

The dominant view in the recent literature on regional convergence seems to be that the evolution of regional incomes in the industrial countries is characterized by very slow but absolute beta convergence. In this paper we challenge this view on the basis of an analysis of the Spanish...