Equality or Efficiency: The Impact of Cohesion Policy on Economic Growth Processes in Provinces

Abstract

In recent years, the issue of investment projects has been addressed in the context of discussions on the principles of regional policy and economic convergence, which remain important objectives of cohesion policy implemented and co-financed within the framework of the European Union. This study on the effects of investment projects carried out in provinces as part of cohesion policy uses economic growth models as methodological tools. As a result of the study, the longterm effects of cohesion policy implemented in Poland under the EU’s 2014–2020 Financial Perspective were determined. The obtained results did not confirm the achievement of the goal of equalising GDP levels per working person between the provinces in the long term. The article demonstrates how mathematical models of economic growth can be used in the process of allocating investment projects between provinces. According to the indications of the models, this process will contribute to the achievement of the goal, considering both the polarisation-diffusion paradigm and the compensatory paradigm of regional policy. The study successfully incorporates the mathematical theory of economic growth into the ongoing discussion on the methods and effects of pursuing regional policy.

Keywords

• investment projects
• regional policy
• economic growth models
• gdp per working person