Metropolitan backbones and industrial peripheries: a spatial study on regional competitiveness in the European Union
Luigi Capoani, Giancarlo Corò, Csaba Lakócai
Economia e Società Regionale – Issue 2025/1 – Language: Italian – Pages 28 P. 87-114
This paper analyzes disparities in productivity and competitiveness across European regions. Beyond the traditional “Blue Banana” in Central-Western Europe, it explores emerging urban clusters in Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean EU, highlighting ongoing economic transformations. Assuming the Nuts 2 regional breakdown and data from the latest EU Regional Competitiveness Index (Rci), this study analyzes spatial and demographic concentration within the Union. Using the Gravitational Model and Stewart’s Theories of Demographic Energy and Population Potential, along with spatial correlation analyses, it examines whether the traditional “Blue Banana” retains its spatial primacy in Europe. Findings show that, while new competitive hubs are emerging, the area remains central. This underscores the importance of targeted regional strategies to reduce disparities and harness innovation beyond the traditional core.
Keywords: Regional Competitiveness, Metropolitan Backbone, Industrial Periphery
Jel codes: N10, N14, N94, R11, R12
