Counterfactual Impact Evaluation of Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 – Regression Discontinuity Design

Under the 2014-2020 multi-annual financial framework, over half of European Union (EU) funding was channelled through the five European structural and investment funds (ESIF). Cohesion policy interventions co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF) were part of ESIF. In addition, beside others, the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative was implemented. The large majority of cohesion policy funding is received by less developed NUTS 2 regions, i.e., regions with a GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita below 75 percent of the EU average. The current study presents a quantitative evaluation of the impact of cohesion policy interventions in the period 2014 to 2020 on regional macro-economic development.