EUROPEAN FUNDS AND REGIONAL GDP DYNAMICS IN ROMANIA. CASE STUDY: NORTH-WEST REGION AND BIHOR COUNTY

This paper analyzes the relationship between the absorption of European funds, regional GDP dynamics, and the processes of local and regional development in Romania, with a focus on the North-West Region and Bihor County. Based on data provided by the National Institute of Statistics for the period...

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Main Authors: Marius-Florin MOȘ, Oana-Laura NICULA, Petru-Șandru ALBOI
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Oradea Publishing House 2025-07-01
Series:Oradea Journal of Business and Economics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://anale.steconomiceuoradea.ro/en/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Marius-Florin-MOS-Oana-Laura-NICULA-Petru-Sandru-ALBOI.pdf
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author Marius-Florin MOȘ
Oana-Laura NICULA
Petru-Șandru ALBOI
author_facet Marius-Florin MOȘ
Oana-Laura NICULA
Petru-Șandru ALBOI
author_sort Marius-Florin MOȘ
collection DOAJ
description This paper analyzes the relationship between the absorption of European funds, regional GDP dynamics, and the processes of local and regional development in Romania, with a focus on the North-West Region and Bihor County. Based on data provided by the National Institute of Statistics for the period 2000–2022, the study explores how investments made through the Cohesion Policy have influenced local economic and social development. Against the backdrop of a European framework that promotes territorial convergence, the research highlights that while European funds can be an important engine of development, their impact on GDP and local development varies significantly depending on the institutional, economic, and social context of each region or county. In Bihor’s case, a steady increase in GDP can be observed, along with persistent disparities when compared to counties such as Cluj, which has succeeded in building an innovation-driven economic model focused on high added-value services. The results show a positive correlation between attracted European funds and GDP growth, though not a directly proportional one. Thus, regional and local development cannot be assessed solely through GDP indicators, but must be examined in a broader framework that includes infrastructure, access to public services, social inclusion, administrative capacity, and quality of life. The paper argues that public policies should be grounded in an integrated approach, tailored to territorial needs, and that European funds must be aligned with clear objectives of sustainable, equitable, and balanced development.
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spelling doaj-art-c5dc2d606ffc4714a01fcb0e300688282025-08-20T03:32:02ZengUniversity of Oradea Publishing HouseOradea Journal of Business and Economics2501-35992025-07-0134122022810.47535/1991AUOES34(1)017EUROPEAN FUNDS AND REGIONAL GDP DYNAMICS IN ROMANIA. CASE STUDY: NORTH-WEST REGION AND BIHOR COUNTYMarius-Florin MOȘ0Oana-Laura NICULA1Petru-Șandru ALBOI2University of Oradea, Doctoral School of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Economic Sciences, The Finance – Accounting Department, Oradea, RomaniaUniversity of Oradea, Doctoral School of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Economic Sciences, The Finance – Accounting Department, Oradea, RomaniaUniversity of Oradea, Doctoral School of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Economic Sciences, The Finance – Accounting Department, Oradea, RomaniaThis paper analyzes the relationship between the absorption of European funds, regional GDP dynamics, and the processes of local and regional development in Romania, with a focus on the North-West Region and Bihor County. Based on data provided by the National Institute of Statistics for the period 2000–2022, the study explores how investments made through the Cohesion Policy have influenced local economic and social development. Against the backdrop of a European framework that promotes territorial convergence, the research highlights that while European funds can be an important engine of development, their impact on GDP and local development varies significantly depending on the institutional, economic, and social context of each region or county. In Bihor’s case, a steady increase in GDP can be observed, along with persistent disparities when compared to counties such as Cluj, which has succeeded in building an innovation-driven economic model focused on high added-value services. The results show a positive correlation between attracted European funds and GDP growth, though not a directly proportional one. Thus, regional and local development cannot be assessed solely through GDP indicators, but must be examined in a broader framework that includes infrastructure, access to public services, social inclusion, administrative capacity, and quality of life. The paper argues that public policies should be grounded in an integrated approach, tailored to territorial needs, and that European funds must be aligned with clear objectives of sustainable, equitable, and balanced development.https://anale.steconomiceuoradea.ro/en/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Marius-Florin-MOS-Oana-Laura-NICULA-Petru-Sandru-ALBOI.pdfeuropean fundsgdplocal developmentregionsbihorconvergencecohesion
spellingShingle Marius-Florin MOȘ
Oana-Laura NICULA
Petru-Șandru ALBOI
EUROPEAN FUNDS AND REGIONAL GDP DYNAMICS IN ROMANIA. CASE STUDY: NORTH-WEST REGION AND BIHOR COUNTY
Oradea Journal of Business and Economics
european funds
gdp
local development
regions
bihor
convergence
cohesion
title EUROPEAN FUNDS AND REGIONAL GDP DYNAMICS IN ROMANIA. CASE STUDY: NORTH-WEST REGION AND BIHOR COUNTY
title_full EUROPEAN FUNDS AND REGIONAL GDP DYNAMICS IN ROMANIA. CASE STUDY: NORTH-WEST REGION AND BIHOR COUNTY
title_fullStr EUROPEAN FUNDS AND REGIONAL GDP DYNAMICS IN ROMANIA. CASE STUDY: NORTH-WEST REGION AND BIHOR COUNTY
title_full_unstemmed EUROPEAN FUNDS AND REGIONAL GDP DYNAMICS IN ROMANIA. CASE STUDY: NORTH-WEST REGION AND BIHOR COUNTY
title_short EUROPEAN FUNDS AND REGIONAL GDP DYNAMICS IN ROMANIA. CASE STUDY: NORTH-WEST REGION AND BIHOR COUNTY
title_sort european funds and regional gdp dynamics in romania case study north west region and bihor county
topic european funds
gdp
local development
regions
bihor
convergence
cohesion
url https://anale.steconomiceuoradea.ro/en/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Marius-Florin-MOS-Oana-Laura-NICULA-Petru-Sandru-ALBOI.pdf
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AT petrusandrualboi europeanfundsandregionalgdpdynamicsinromaniacasestudynorthwestregionandbihorcounty