Institute of Economic Research
Topic
The contribution of the ESIF to the Slovak economy
PhD. program
Year of admission
2026
Name of the supervisor
Mgr. Tomáš Miklošovič, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Národohospodárska fakulta EU
Annotation
Investments in Slovakia are to a significant extent financed from European Union sources, mainly through the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). However, in recent times, there has been an increasing number of discussions about the real benefits of these funds for economic growth, regional development and structural changes in the economy. The aim of the dissertation is to empirically estimate the economic effects of drawing down ESIF in Slovakia during the period of membership in the European Union and to identify their short-term and long-term impacts on macroeconomic performance, regional disparities, sectoral structure of the economy and the labor market. The analysis will be based on the application of econometric methods suitable for the evaluation of public investment policies. It is assumed that panel regression models, models with fixed and random effects, or dynamic panel models or macroeconomic models of the VAR/VECM type will be used, which will allow identifying short-term and long-term relationships between the drawing down of EU funds and economic indicators. In the regional analysis, it will also be possible to use spatial econometric methods or the difference-in-differences approach to compare regions with different intensities of fund absorption.
The empirical analysis will use a combination of macroeconomic, regional and sectoral data. The main data sources will include the databases of Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic (MIRRI) and the database on the implementation of ESIF operational programmes. Additional data on the labour market, public finances and the structure of the economy will be drawn from the databases of the OECD, the World Bank and national statistical publications. The regional analysis will be based on data at the NUTS2 or NUTS3 level for the period since Slovakia joined the European Union.
The research builds on the existing literature examining the effects of cohesion policy in Central and Eastern European countries. Previous studies show that EU funds can contribute to economic growth and regional development, but their effectiveness depends on the quality of institutions and the absorption capacity of the public sector. For example, the study by Mogila et al. (2022) analyses the impact of cohesion policy on regional disparities in Central Europe and points to the heterogeneity of its effects across regions. Radvanský et al. (2016) provide a detailed ex-post assessment of the impacts of cohesion policy on the regional development of Slovakia in the period 2007–2013 and point to the importance of structural investments for the regional economy. The dissertation will build on these researches and expand them with more up-to-date data, a broader macroeconomic context and a more complex econometric analysis of the impacts of EU funds on the Slovak economy.
The empirical analysis will use a combination of macroeconomic, regional and sectoral data. The main data sources will include the databases of Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic (MIRRI) and the database on the implementation of ESIF operational programmes. Additional data on the labour market, public finances and the structure of the economy will be drawn from the databases of the OECD, the World Bank and national statistical publications. The regional analysis will be based on data at the NUTS2 or NUTS3 level for the period since Slovakia joined the European Union.
The research builds on the existing literature examining the effects of cohesion policy in Central and Eastern European countries. Previous studies show that EU funds can contribute to economic growth and regional development, but their effectiveness depends on the quality of institutions and the absorption capacity of the public sector. For example, the study by Mogila et al. (2022) analyses the impact of cohesion policy on regional disparities in Central Europe and points to the heterogeneity of its effects across regions. Radvanský et al. (2016) provide a detailed ex-post assessment of the impacts of cohesion policy on the regional development of Slovakia in the period 2007–2013 and point to the importance of structural investments for the regional economy. The dissertation will build on these researches and expand them with more up-to-date data, a broader macroeconomic context and a more complex econometric analysis of the impacts of EU funds on the Slovak economy.