Identifying and Interpreting Regional Convergence Clusters Across Europe

Abstract

In this paper we test for regional convergence clusters across the EU. We utilise a methodology that allows for the endogenous selection of regional clusters using a multivariate test for stationarity, where the number and composition of clusters are determined by the application of pairwise tests of regional differences in per capita output over time. To interpret the composition of the resulting convergence clusters, the latter are tested against a number of possible groupings suggested by recent theories and hypotheses of regional growth and convergence. Further, our method allows regional convergence clusters to vary over time.