In this paper we investigate the role of EU Structural and Investment Funds in affecting the dynamic impact of regional fiscal consolidation on regional income inequality. Relying on a panel of 162 NUTS-2 regions of twelve European countries, we find that regional spending cuts increase regional inequality in the medium-term, with the effects surviving to a large battery of robustness checks. The uneven distributional impact of regional austerity measures is however cushioned by larger EU funds expenditures, especially through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with the effect magnified during periods of recession and when the regional quality of government is higher.

Agnello L., Pizzuto P. (2025). Do European Cohesion Policies Mitigate the Impact of Fiscal Consolidation on Regional Income Inequality?. OPEN ECONOMIES REVIEW [10.1007/s11079-025-09801-z].

Do European Cohesion Policies Mitigate the Impact of Fiscal Consolidation on Regional Income Inequality?

Agnello L.;Pizzuto P.
2025-03-26

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the role of EU Structural and Investment Funds in affecting the dynamic impact of regional fiscal consolidation on regional income inequality. Relying on a panel of 162 NUTS-2 regions of twelve European countries, we find that regional spending cuts increase regional inequality in the medium-term, with the effects surviving to a large battery of robustness checks. The uneven distributional impact of regional austerity measures is however cushioned by larger EU funds expenditures, especially through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with the effect magnified during periods of recession and when the regional quality of government is higher.
26-mar-2025
Agnello L., Pizzuto P. (2025). Do European Cohesion Policies Mitigate the Impact of Fiscal Consolidation on Regional Income Inequality?. OPEN ECONOMIES REVIEW [10.1007/s11079-025-09801-z].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Agnello_Pizzuto_OER2025.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione Editoriale
Dimensione 1.81 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.81 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/676826
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 0
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 0
social impact