Regional development patterns of the new EU member states: the heterogeneous impact of geography

Abstract

The aim of the article is to highlight the impact of geography to the patterns of regional development over the new Member States of the European Union. Through the assessment of a Population Potential Index on the national and European level and the comparison of the results, we discover the heterogeneous impact of geography in the configuration of the new economic map in this area. Given the constrains which are set by this kind of rates, the article proceeds in investigating the new economic relations as far as the perspectives for the area’s regions.