Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy: assessing their role in reducing socio-economic disparities at the subregional level in Poland
Journal cover , volume 19, no. 79, year 2026, title Regional Development and Regional Policy
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Keywords

Cohesion Policy
Common Agricultural Policy
regional development
convergence
factors of development

How to Cite

Smętkowski, M. (2026). Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy: assessing their role in reducing socio-economic disparities at the subregional level in Poland. Rozwój Regionalny I Polityka Regionalna, 19(79), 9–28. https://doi.org/10.14746/rrpr.2026.79.02

Abstract

The study examined how European Funds contribute to reduce socio-economic disparities across Polish sub-regions. It did not confirm either opposing or comlementary effects of Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy. Cohesion Policy showed a clearer pro-development impact, especially on employment growth and entrepreneurship, although with a slight increase in disparities between sub-regions. Ex-penditures supporting enterprises, human capital, the information society and R&D were particularly important for regional development dynamics. By contrast, investments in quality of life and CAP spending did not influence the reduction of relative or absolute poverty. The modernisation-oriented character of CAP may have contributed to growing disparities in registered unemployment, but the mechanisms behind this relationship require further, including qualitative, research.

https://doi.org/10.14746/rrpr.2026.79.02
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Funding

This work was supported by HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme [grant number 101061104], project ESSPIN

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