Regional policy: a European approach. 3rd ed.

Book abstract:

The first edition of this book, originally authored by Norbert Vanhove and Prof LH Klaassen, was published in 1985 and intended as a handbook on regional policy. Since that edition, and the second updated handbook, the European economic and political environment has changed, inspiring a third and much revised edition. First, the Single European Act was followed by the Maastricht and Amsterdam Treaties. Second, the Community has been enlarged with the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden. Third, Economic and Monetary Union started in 1999. Fourth, the fall of the iron curtain opened the door to Central and East Europe. Fifth, the Structural Funds became operational in 1988 and are a strong instrument in the development of less favoured regions. To take these developments into account, a number of chapters have been updated and others have been changed fundamentally or are new.
The book combines the theory and practice of regional economic policy in Europe. Chaptersare: The background to and motivation for a regional economic policy at a national level; Regional disparities in the EU; Region: a relative notion; micro and macro aspects of the location of firms; European urban developments and urban planning; the impact of integration on the regions; objectives and strategies of regional economic policy; instruments and evaluation of regional economic policy in EU countries; regional economic policy at the European Union level; The structural funds 1989-1999 and finally a chapter looking into the future beyond 2000.
The book provides a comprehensive overview and reference work of regional policies and concerns in the EU and should be useful for students and researchers alike.