The aim of reducing regional disparities in the European Union is enshrined in the EU Treaty. An important aspect that takes centre stage in discussions on the EU’s so-called cohesion policy is the ranking of the Union’s many regions in terms of their levels of prosperity. This ranking largely determines whether and by how much a region will be supported from the general budget. Crucially, regional prosperity and the ranking as such depend largely on how we measure disparities and development. The seminar will discuss how regional disparities should be measured and what the EU should do in order to reduce these disparities.

At the seminar the report Regional Disparities in the EU will be presented. The report is part of the research project The EU Budget.

Speaker
José Villaverde, Professor in Economics, University of Cantabria

Discussants
Hans Björklund, Statistician, Statistics Sweden
Bjarne Lindström, Director, Statistics and Research Åland

Chair
Torbjörn Becker, Director, Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE)

Time: Tuesday June 14, 2011 at 11.30-13.00
Sandwiches and coffee will be served during the seminar
Venue: Märta Sigrid, Stockholm School of Economics, Sveavägen 63, Stockholm (1st floor).

Register no later than Monday June 13 at 15:00.

The seminar - which is free of charge and will be held in English - is organized in collaboration with Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE). All participants will recueve a copy of the report.

Signups closed for this Seminarium