View slides by Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, the Princesa de Asturias Chair and a Professor of Economic Geography at the London School of Economics
While many regions in recent years have experienced significant growth and prosperity, others are either stuck — or at risk of becoming stuck — in a development trap. These regions face declining economic growth, employment, and productivity compared to their neighbors and their own historical trends. Prolonged periods in such a trap are fueling political discontent and unrest, often manifesting as increased support for anti-system parties during elections.
During this ECA Talk, Prof Rodríguez-Pose presented the findings of his recent research that explored the relationship between the risk, intensity, and duration of regional development traps and the rise of political discontent across the European Union (EU). Using regional-level econometric analysis, this study examines support for Eurosceptic parties in national elections between 2014 and 2022 as a proxy for this discontent. The findings reveal a strong connection between regions stuck in development traps and increased support for Eurosceptic parties. Additionally, the data suggests that the longer a region experiences stagnation, the greater the support for parties opposed to European integration.
DETAILS
- DATE: February 18, 2025
- TIME: 9:00 - 10:30 AM ET
- CHAIR: Ivailo Izvorski, Chief Economist for Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank
- CONTACT: Office of the Chief Economist Office in Europe and Central Asia
- ECACEoffice@worldbank.org