Constructing Regional Supply and Use Tables: Dutch Experiences

Abstract

At present, two major and seemingly contrasting developments are visible: the increasing degree of economic integration between nations and the growing interest in regional economic development. The former development culminated in a wide variety of economic co-operations such as the creation of the EU in Europe and NAFTA in North America. The former resulted in all kinds of economic aid for ‘economically less developed’ regions, such as the objective 1, 2 and 5b programs of the EU (Commission of the European Communities, 1991 and 1994). The (renewed) interest in regions also increases the need for empirical data on regional economic performance and regional economic structure. In recent years this data need has been fulfilled by all kinds of statistics, ranging from income data to regional economic data on industrial production and value added. However, with eligibility criteria for economic aid being constantly tightened, the need for regional economic structure and performance analysis increases simultaneously. Besides, the need for modeling regional economies has grown stronger in recent years. Hence, more suitable and flexible statistics for all of these purposes have to be developed.