The Economic Impact of the LEADER Program in the Rural Communities of Romania

Authors

  • Ana-Maria Opria Universitatea "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" din Iași
  • Lucian Roșu Universitatea "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" din Iași
  • Corneliu Iațu Universitatea "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" din Iași

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47743/saeb-2023-0026

Keywords:

LEADER funds, rural communities, economic impact, socio-economic development, Difference in Differences method.

Abstract

The sustainable development of rural areas is one of the European Union’s objectives. LEADER program contributes to its fulfillment by offering financial support to disadvantaged rural areas. The purpose of this paper is to assess the LEADER program’s economic impact in the Romanian rural communities. Econometric methods of impact assessment were used to analyze the evolution of economic indicators in the beneficiary communities. Propensity Score Matching and Difference in Differences were the methods applied in order to meet the objectives of the paper: analysis of the spatial distribution of projects submitted and funds allocated to LAGs (1), and of the economic evolution of LAG and non-LAG communities, before and after LEADER funding (2). The results indicate a stronger economic growth for the beneficiary rural communities, confirming in all cases the initial hypothesis. LEADER seems to have acted in these directions: the creation of new jobs and increasing the local businesses performance. However, the contribution made was minimal and insignificant. Conclusions of the study highlight that the contribution of the LEADER program to the economic development of rural communities can be at most one of supporting the current level of development, but not of reaching a much higher level. LEADER can be considered, from a quantitative point of view, only an instrument with a positive effect on rural areas, but not an instrument of impact. This is because LEADER did not bring significant changes and didn’t ensure that critical mass that could trigger the economic development of rural communities.

Author Biographies

Ana-Maria Opria, Universitatea "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" din Iași

Department of Geography, Faculty of Geography and Geology

Lucian Roșu, Universitatea "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" din Iași

Department of Geography, Faculty of Geography and Geology

Corneliu Iațu, Universitatea "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" din Iași

Department of Geography, Faculty of Geography and Geology

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Published

2023-06-29

How to Cite

Opria, A.-M., Roșu, L., & Iațu, C. (2023). The Economic Impact of the LEADER Program in the Rural Communities of Romania. Scientific Annals of Economics and Business, 70(3), 399–420. https://doi.org/10.47743/saeb-2023-0026

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