Poorer UK regions have benefited from EU Cohesion Policy and would lose out from Brexit

In recent years, the European Commission has disbursed a large amount of financial resources to UK regions, aiming to promote economic development and employment. Drawing on recent research, Marco Di Cataldo demonstrates that the most economically disadvantaged areas have made good use of these funds and reduced the share of unemployed people more than other areas. The interruption of financial aid – one of the potential consequences of a Brexit – would be likely to undermine the labour market and economic gains achieved during the period of highest financial support.