Abstract

We propose a novel concept of regional development traps that is embedded in evolutionary thinking, and that accounts for the persistent weak ability of many regions to develop new activities and upgrade their economies into more complex activities. Our definition of regional traps centers around the structural inability of regions to develop new complex activities over a longer period of time, because their capabilities form a major obstacle to move into new and more complex activities. Using industry data, we follow European regions over a long period of time and provide systematic evidence on how many regions in the EU are trapped, what kinds of traps they have fallen into, and to what extent these concern high- and low-income regions. We will identify regions that once did well but have fallen into a trap, but we also showcase regions that managed to overcome such traps, and how. These insights are useful for policy discussions about regional traps, what to do about them, how to successfully escape them, and how to avoid them in the future.