Regional specialization in the European Union

This paper examines productive specialization in the regions of the European Union between 1977 and 1999 using the information provided by a set of methodological instruments that allow one to overcome several of the limitations of the conventional approach used in this type of analysis. The results obtained reveal a process of convergence in regional productive structures during the 23 years considered. This is due to the behaviour of regions with high levels of specialization at the start of the period whose productive structures have tended to shift towards the European average over time. The analysis carried out also shows the major role played by regional size, market access and geographical location in explaining specialization in the European context.