CONVERGENCE STUDY OF EU ENLARGEMENT IMPACT

In the framework of the neoclassical growth model developed by Barro and Sala-i-Martin, the concept of alpha-convergence is applied to a variety of regional sets of 19 countries of EU, on the level of NUTS1 and NUTS3 regions. The complex analysis was made on a large data base of real GDP per capita (divided by overall CPI) values obtained from the Eurostat for a cross-section of NUTS3 regions, and covering the period 2000-2011. Finally, the first stage non-linear regressions of the logarithmic expression of GDP per capita unexpectedly display strong evidence of the EU 2004 enlargement, as well as the global crisis impact on the disparities evolution in the great majority of NUTS1 regions of the 19 EU countries analyzed.