Uneven economic integration and regional growth: A perspective of developing economies

The dissertation aims at analyzing international economic integration from the perspective of regional economics. The objective has been to examine the nature of economic growth in less developed countries when they are involved in international economic integration. More specifically, the dissertation deals with the spatial aspects of unequal economic integration. During the course of analysis, it has been shown that economic integration can bring forth diverse results in less developed member economies. In a spatial context, it is observed that regions are influenced not only by national factors, but also by location-specific factors such as proximity, urban hierarchy, industrial linkages, and inter-regional disparity. The theoretical model framework presented in this dissertation addresses the North-South debate currently waging, especially in the perspective of developing countries.;In Chapter Two, issues related to economic integration were critically reviewed. A wide array of literature survey was undertaken to give a clearer understanding of the characteristics of international economic integration movement, particularly for the South-South integration. In Chapter Three, based on a knowledge-driven growth model, it is found that economic integration could bring forth diverse results depending upon a variety of conditions like initial endowment, trade policy, and the development level of partner countries they are going to integrate. The significance of trade policy was highlighted by comparing growth performances manifested under each characterized policy regime. In a spatial context, the process of regional transformation was examined within the modified stages theory in Chapter Four. It is argued that regions in a nation transform not only by the differences in scale and external economies, but also by stages they are in. In Chapter Five, the traditional argument of overall convergence-divergence was transposed unto a country's regional development process. It is asserted that regions are influenced by both the national factors and the location-specific factors such as proximity, urban hierarchy, industrial linkages, and the inter-regional disparity. Therefore, regional growth in integration is a field where those factors interact compositely. Regional evolution after integration in less developed member countries in EU confirms the relevance of the criteria. The case of Mexico was conjectured in comparison with the real experiences of the less developed member countries in the EU. Tests of regional convergence in Mexico roughly suggest that liberalization in a developing country could exarcerbate regional inequality. Chapter Six summarizes what have been dealt in the dissertation and suggests research topics to be delved in the future.