EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURING IN EU25: AN INTER-SECTORAL ECONOMETRIC MODEL OF 151 EUROPEAN REGIONS, 1995-2000

This article presents a comparative analysis of regional development in European Union countries after the Enlargement of year 2004 to 25 Countries of Western, Central and East Europe. We analysis the evolution of 151 regions of those countries during the period 1995-2000 and present some interregional econometric models which show the positive role of the education, research and manufacturing on economic development. These conclusions lead to some recommendations about regional policies in European Union, which should be more active than passive, as to say not only limited to some social cohesion funds but also addressed to support education, research, manufacturing and other activities which have a significant role in regional development in all European regions, particularly in those with low levels of financial support from their own countries. Those regional policies should be developed in cooperation with economics researchers and other experts from different countries of Europe fostering communication between EU institutions, university researchers and society.