Cohesion policy in the European Union (EU) has been widely accepted as a tool to advance the catch-up process, i … success of structural funds in this regard. From a political economics perspective, EU structural funds and their instruments … of cohesion policy, but also EU agricultural policy, are interpreted as providing for a compensation for poorer member …

synchronization (BCS) in the EU. We estimate the effects of market integration and economic policy coordination on bilateral business … positive effect on BCS, particularly between incumbent and new EU members. (2) Rising specialization does not decouple business … cycles. (3) The decline of income disparities in EU27 contributes to BCS, as converging countries develop stronger trade and …