Are we spending too much to grow? The case of Structural Funds
评估欧盟结构基金对区域经济增长的影响，发现平均效果为正，但资金强度与增长呈倒U型关系，超出最优值的资金可重新分配。
Abstract We evaluate whether the impact of EU Structural and Cohesion Funds (EUF) on Member States’ regional economic growth depends on the intensity of treatment, measured by the normalized amount of funds distributed in each region. We use an original data set that covers all the main sources of EUF and extend the regression discontinuity design to the case of continuous treatment. The results suggest an average positive effect on regional growth. The estimated conditional intensity‐growth function is concave and presents a maximum value. Therefore, the exceeding funds could have been allocated to other lagging regions without reducing the effect on growth.