The role of open borders and cross-border cooperation in regional growth across Europe

Open borders and cross-border cooperation in regional development

“…There is no evidence that boundary changes were systematic, as barriers existed before 1914. Christaller [23], after a study on the effects of borders on urban development in the United States, Germany, and France, observed that border cities could develop limited hinterland areas that disturbed the orderly order of urban hierarchies, in accordance with the well-known central place theory of economic development [24].…”

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

“…Finally, cross-border cooperation itself, referring to a network of more or less formalised and flexible cross-border links between different categories of actors, such as public institutions, non-governmental organisations, entrepreneurs, etc., should be considered an important factor determining the contemporary dynamics of cross-border development (Durand & Decoville, 2020). It fosters not only multifaceted strengthening of cross-border ties (Sousa, 2013), but also economic development of border areas (Basboga, 2020;Howaniec & Lis, 2020 This catalogue is of course not exhaustive. Each of the above factors, however, has a significant impact on the development of functional, and consequently institutionalised cross-border regions, increasing the regional growth potential of border areas (Klatt & Winkler, 2020).…”

“…A growing body of research has been developed over recent years regarding the impact of European integration and the Cohesion Policy on overcoming the peripherality of border areas, as well as on integration processes and development of cross-border cooperation in the context of border area development (Medeiros, 2015(Medeiros, , 2018ab, 2019Miszczuk & Jakubowski, 2015;Jakubowski, Bronisz & Miszczuk, 2017;Basboga, 2020). Nonetheless, these studies largely constitute case studies (Sohn & Scott, 2020) or comparative studies (Scott, Sweedler, Ganster & Eber-wein, 1997;Sohn, Reitel & Walther, 2009;Decoville, Durand, Sohn & Walther, 2013), whereas cross-cutting and holistic studies showing the development processes of cross-border areas in a broader perspective are still scarce.…”

“…Nonetheless, these studies largely constitute case studies (Sohn & Scott, 2020) or comparative studies (Scott, Sweedler, Ganster & Eber-wein, 1997;Sohn, Reitel & Walther, 2009;Decoville, Durand, Sohn & Walther, 2013), whereas cross-cutting and holistic studies showing the development processes of cross-border areas in a broader perspective are still scarce. The few exceptions only seem to confirm the challenges and difficulties of cross-sectional analysis of the state and socio-economic changes in cross-border areas (Topaloglou, Kallioras, Manetos & Petrakos, 2005;Sohn & Licheron, 2018;Basboga, 2020). This is primarily because the study of cross-border areas presents a significant challenge of incomplete comparability of information and statistical data, as well as dispersion of data sources.…”

New approach towards border regions in the Territorial Agenda 2030

“…(Anderson et al, 2003;Decoville & Durand, 2019;Medeiros, 2018aMedeiros, , 2018b. Integration contributes to the growth of multifaceted economic and social linkages in cross-border areas (Durand & Decoville, 2020), which often leads to their economic recovery (Basboga, 2020). However, the evolution of border functions towards greater permeability does not trigger an immediate and always positive impact for border regions of the other determinants, i.e.…”