Territorial Distribution of EU Funds Allocation for Developments of Rural Romania during 2014–2020

Abstract

This study uses cross-section regressions and spatial econometrics techniques to identify determinants of rural development project implementation based on the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) of the European Union. For this, we use 40 Romanian counties. Results show that agricultural land abundancy and land concentration degree are significant positive factors. On the contrary, the local human development level is a negative determinant, low values for this factor being an incentive to compensate the lack of own resources through European funding. No significant effects of the average salary or population density were depicted. Spatial analysis indicates contagion and diffusion processes for fund accession through projects. This behavior is like that in other financial sectors, in which human behavior is a decisive factor, such as the insurance one. A West–East clusterization process is identified for the total project value, conditioned by the identified factors.