University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Dániel KUTTOR REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE IN THE VISEGRAD FOUR COUNTRIES DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD University Of Miskolc Institute of World and Regional Economics Herl’any, Slovakia

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, SlovakiaContent Definition of research topic and motivation Theoretical approach Limitation of the target area Analysis of the regional difference (based on GDP data) Measurement of disparities on NUTS 2 level Visualisation of inequalities Conclusion

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Definition of research topic and motivation Measurement and visualization of territorial disparities (PhD) The reasons, motivations for investigation:  personal >>> partners, GIS;  EU expansion >>> CRP;  growing competition on the global market >>> CIP;  EUROSTAT >>> data.

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia V4 countries in Europe

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia V4 countries’ performance in 20th Century Convergence or divergence to Western Europe Source: Angus Maddison

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia V4 countries’ performance in last decade Convergence or divergence to Western Europe Source: EUROStat What the tendencies on regional level?

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Theoretical approach or background Contradictory approaches the different theories of development and growth have traditions; the growth is a spatially cumulative process, which results increasing inequalities (Myrdal, Krugman); the regional differences disappear with the growth (Solow, Rostow); Spatial inequalities depend on the level of development (Williamson); „trade off” phenomenon. ? in V4

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Regions in V4 Generally 35 regions (CZ:8; HU:7, PL: 16, SK: 4) Source: MapInfo

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Measurement of disparities on NUTS 2 level Comparison on national level, based on GDP per capita (PPP) Source: EUROStat

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, SlovakiaMeasurement of disparities on NUTS 2 level GDP per capita (on PPS) Source: EUROStat

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Measurement of disparities on NUTS 2 level Comparison based on GDP per capita in % of the EU average SPSS analysis of the regions Source: EUROStat

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Measurement of disparities on NUTS 2 level Comparison based on GDP per capita in % of the EU average SPSS analysis Box plot figure Source: EUROStat

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Source: GEODA & EUROStat Measurement of disparities on NUTS 2 level Comparison based on GDP per capita in % of the EU average GEODA analysis Significant polarization!

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Measurement of disparities on NUTS 2 level Regions by change of GDP ( ) Source: MapInfo & EUROStat

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Source: EUROStat Measurement of disparities on NUTS 2 level The ”trade off” phenomenon ( ): Two cycles identifiable

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Source: EUROStat Measurement of disparities on NUTS 2 level The geographical aspect, i.e. west-east incline (1995/2005)

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Conclusions (1) the V4 countries could converge to Western European (EU) average measured on national level; at the same time the territorial disparities on regional level increased dramatically; the polarization in every country means that the capital region has significantly higher growth potential and a faster convergence; in contrast with the previous there are regions which although increased their GDP, but the GDP per capita values did not get closer the EU average; in many cases the national convergences were due to just the growing capital regions (for instance the Czech Republic in the late 90es);

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Conclusions (2) the under-developed regions react more sensitive to the national stagnation or slow down (for instance: Hungary in the recent years); Slovakia provide a good example, as the rapid economic growth has positive effect on the regions growth potentials; the „trade off” phenomenon can be observed in CEE countries.

University of Miskolc Institute of World & Regional Economics Dániel Kuttor: REGIONAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE Herl’any, Slovakia Thank for Your attention! Dakujem!