Effectiveness of EU Regional Policy: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in Finland

European Union regional policy is implemented through structural funds, such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which support investment in peripheral regions of the EU. We studied the effects of EU regional policy on key economic variables using a rare natural experiment setting. In 2007, parts of regions that were previously covered by the ERDF programme for Western Finland were reallocated to the ERDF programme for Northern Finland, with higher support intensity per capita. This area reallocation was caused by the newly adopted EU legislation regulating the classification of regional statistical areas. With a detailed postal code area dataset and a difference-in-differences estimator, we discovered desirable regional policy effects on unemployment and the number of jobs.

Improving road freight transport statistics by using a distance matrix

Distances driven by road freight vehicles are an essential parameter for the calculation of transport volume. In the Austrian road freight survey, places of loading and unloading are recorded on a postal code basis. To derive the actual distances driven from this data, Statistics Austria uses a distance matrix that was first created in the 1980s. While the first version of this matrix was based on manual measurements, it has recently been recreated and updated using modern routing software. This article describes the methodology on which the current Austrian distance matrix is based. The main points discussed are: how to determine representative centroids for postal code areas; how to deal with journeys within one postal code area; and how to calculate the actual distances using routing software. The last part of the article compares the distance matrix to odometer readings from the Austrian road freight survey of the reference year 2015. This comparison showed a high positive correlation which indicates the good quality of the developed distance matrix and emphasises its usefulness in road freight transport statistics.

Seroprevalence and GIS-supported risk factor analysis of Fasciola hepatica infections in dairy herds in Germany

SUMMARYA total of 20 749 bulk tank milk (BTM) samples was collected in November 2008 from all over Germany, corresponding to 20·9% of all German dairy herds. The BTM samples were analysed for antibodies against Fasciola hepatica using the excretory–secretory (ES) ELISA. A geospatial map was drawn to show herd prevalences per postal code area. Various spatial risk factors were tested for potential statistical associations with the ELISA results in logistic regression supported by a geographical information system (GIS). The mean seroprevalence was 23·6% and prevalences in different German federal states varied between 2·6% and 38·4%. GIS analysis revealed statistically significant positive associations between the proportion of grassed area and water bodies per postal code area and positive BTM ELISA results. This can be explained by the biology of the intermediate host, the amphibious snail Galba (Lymnea) truncatula and the pasture-borne nature of fasciolosis. The full logistic regression model had a Pseudo-R2 of 22%, while the final model obtained by controlled stepwise model building revealed a Pseudo-R2 of 14%, indicating that additional, unrecorded factors and random effects contributed substantially to the occurrence of positive ELISA results. Considering the high seroprevalences in some areas and the economic impact of fasciolosis, farmers and veterinarians should be strongly advised to implement effective liver fluke control programmes.