This study represents a first attempt to empirically analyze the role of firm heterogeneity in regional business cycle behaviour. Working with monthly Italy's firms data and estimating a random effects ordered probit model, we first document sizable asymmetries in Northern and Southern firms...

We look at a model where countries of di fferent size provide local public goods with positive spillovers. Matching grants can induce socially-e fficient expenditure levels, but countries can induce bailouts. We consider the characteristics of these bailouts in a subgame-perfect Nash equilibrium...

The paper evaluates the impact the EU Eastern enlargement in 2004 had for the economic performance of NUTS2 region located at the border to the new member states. Effects are identified by applying a synthetic control method. It compares the economic performance of these regions with synthetic...

A consensus has emerged that agglomeration economies are an important factor explaining why firms cluster next to each other. Yet disagreement remains over the sources of these agglomeration effects, given non-trivial measurement challenges. This paper is the first to present direct evidence...

The existence and persistence of large spatial disparities in un-employment within national economies is a central issue in regional economics. Previous empirical analyses have largely disregarded the role of fundamentals. On the contrary in this paper we explore the link between labour...

Empirical research on agglomeration and regional economic growth puts high emphasis on the impact of specialization, diversity, and competition on regional employment dynamics (Glaeser et al. 1992, Henderson et al. 1995, Blien et al. 2006, Fuchs 2009). However, Beugelsdijk (2006) and Raspe/van...

Firms competitive strategy in industrialised countries is increasingly based on activities such as the inventions of new processes and products, the improvements of the employees skill, the creation of a reputation for company's products. All these actions are intended to increase firms economic...

Based on the gravity model of international trade, this paper initially analyzes North Korea's international trade pattern, which tends to follow the prediction of the gravity model: a positive relationship between trade and trading partners' GDP, and negative relationship between trade and...

Not in the Shopping Cart -On the experiential aspects of retail shopping centers It is not hard to imagine that consumers value not only what they have bought in a store and can take home with them, but also the experience that was entailed in the actual purchase. The aim of the study is to...

The transition to market economy has represented both for Romania and other Central and Eastern European countries an emphasis on economic and social inequalities. The authors consider it is necessary to identify a path pass from chaotic inequalities to a state of economic and social cohesion...