Explaining the Level of Relative Investment Specialisation: A Spatial Econometric Analysis of EU Regions

This paper analyses the level of relative specialisation in terms of gross fixed capital formation in EU regions. Larger market and regional sizes diminish; a higher unemployment rate, population density, the fact of being a central region, the distance to the economic centre, and economic liberalisation increase the level of specialisation. These results are not sensitive to differing formulations of the specialisation indicator. Accounting for spatial dependence by the use of spatial econometric tools, negative spatial interactions probably due to data inconsistencies are present. However, the results of classical econometric estimates are robust.