Asymmetry of the economic development of cross-border areas in the European Union: assessment and typology

Abstract

The article aims to characterise the phenomenon, determine the degree, and analyse the dynamics and directions of change in the level of asymmetry of economic development of cross-border areas in the European Union (EU) based on GDP per capita (PPP). It also aims to propose a typology of cross-border areas in the EU considering the above criteria. The obtained results show that despite a relatively evident reduction of the level of asymmetry of economic development in many cases in the period 1990-2015, and particularly after 2004, many cross-border areas show significant disparities in the economic sphere. Moreover, the dynamics of the observed transformations remain spatially differentiated.