Total factor productivity (TFP) explains the bulk of the differences in income level across territories. A major policy issue refers to the ability of place‐based policy to promote TFP growth in backward areas. We investigate the effect of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) on local TFP growth in Southern Italy between 2007 and 2015. By using different empirical models (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) cross‐section, panel fixed‐effect regressions and a spatial regression discontinuity design), we show that, on average, local TFP seems to be rather unresponsive to EU programmes. Some suggestive evidence of a positive effect is found for ERDF infrastructure investments and for the areas characterized by higher institutional quality and population density.

中文翻译：

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欧盟的区域政策是否会促进当地全要素生产率的增长？来自意大利Mezzogiorno的证据

全要素生产率（TFP）解释了不同地区收入水平的大部分差异。一个主要的政策问题是指地方政策促进落后地区TFP增长的能力。我们调查了2007年至2015年间欧洲区域发展基金（ERDF）对意大利南部当地全要素生产率增长的影响。通过使用不同的经验模型（最小绝对收缩和选择算子（LASSO）横截面，面板固定效应回归和空间回归不连续性设计），我们表明，平均而言，当地的全要素生产率似乎对欧盟计划的反应不大。在ERDF基础设施投资以及以更高的机构质量和人口密度为特征的地区中，发现了一些积极作用的暗示性证据。