MEASUREMENT OF TERRITORIAL CONVERGENCE. AN ANALYSIS IN THE CASE OF ROMANIA

Abstract

This paper reviews a number of methods and instruments developed for the analysis of economic inequalities and that can be used for examining territorial disparities in Romania. The objective of the paper was to produce an update analysis of the convergence process among Romanian regions in light of a panel of these instruments, specific for the measurement of sigma-convergence. By using EUROSTAT data for 200-2011, several indexes were computed and their evolution is analysed. Romania experienced a process of economic divergence, a process of widening of inequalities between regions and counties. The process is more visibile at regions level. Territorial inequalities are explained in a proportion of 71,67%-84,24% by the inter-group component (inter-regions), the intra-group component (intra-regions or among counties) being less important.

Keywords

• economic convergence
• inequalities
• regional convergence