Josefa Vega Crespo

Delocation in the manufacturing sectors in the EU. A regional overview

The question of delocation in main industrial regions across the EU is approached here, and its effects on jobs losses estimated. Seventy five regions are selected following the double criteria of size of the manufacturing industries and high per capita income levels. Taken together, the selected regions account for 65% of total manufacturing GVA in the EU-15. Delocation affected half of them in the period 2000-2005 when competition in the international markets rose and shows higher intensity in most of the British, French and Italian regions although its aggregate effect on employment seems have being offset for growth in services sectors. On the other hand, regions located in the continental area with more market potential have the highest concentration of location effects. Therefore delocation has changed the location of European manufacturing industry, benefiting those latter regions and perhaps bringing higher spatial concentration.