Working Paper Series #2018-029 The Eurasian customs union and the economic geography of Belarus: A panel convergence approach Mehmet Güney Celbis, Pui‐Hang Wong and Tatjana Guznajeva Maastricht Economic and social Research institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU‐MERIT) email:
[email protected] | website: http://www.merit.unu.edu Maastricht Graduate School of Governance (MGSoG) email: info‐
[email protected] | website: http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/governance Boschstraat 24, 6211 AX Maastricht, The Netherlands Tel: (31) (43) 388 44 00 UNU-MERIT Working Papers ISSN 1871-9872 Maastricht Economic and social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology UNU-MERIT Maastricht Graduate School of Governance MGSoG UNU-MERIT Working Papers intend to disseminate preliminary results of research carried out at UNU-MERIT and MGSoG to stimulate discussion on the issues raised. The Eurasian Customs Union and the Economic Geography of Belarus: A panel convergence approach∗ Mehmet G¨uneyCelbisy Pui-Hang Wong,z Tatjana Guznajevax Version dated July 3, 2018 Abstract This study presents novel research on the economic geography of Belarus. The 118 regions of Belarus are examined in relation to the Eurasian Customs Union (EACU) through the period 2005-2014. Spatial clusters and outliers are identified and compared across the periods prior and after the establishment of the EACU. We observe that EACU membership corresponds to a slowdown in the process of regional economic convergence in Belarus, and intensified economic competition with a geographical dimension among regions. We also observe that urban regions have benefited more from the EACU than less urbanised areas. Key words: Eurasian Customs Union, Belarus, convergence, spatial analysis, economic inte- gration.