This paper employs a top-down methodological approach to identify the most relevant contributions in the literature on the impact of European Cohesion Policy and European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs) on regional development. After a broad-spectrum bibliometric review, identifying the overall structure of research in this field, we systematically narrow its focus to quantitative studies and, ultimately, to econometric analyses of ESIF effectiveness. The results indicate that empirical research on ESIFs has grown in complexity, with increasing reliance on advanced econometric techniques such as spatial econometrics, difference-in-differences, and regression discontinuity designs. While a large portion of the literature finds positive effects on economic growth, employment, and regional convergence, these effects are frequently conditional on governance quality, institutional frameworks, and regional characteristics. In contrast, some studies report insignificant or even negative impacts, highlighting inefficiencies in fund allocation and policy implementation. The findings emphasize the necessity for context-specific policy adaptations, ensuring that ESIFs continue to support the evolving needs of regional economies in the European Union.
Lobo et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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