Successful restructuring features for regional economies in the EU New member states. An emphasis on the Alba county of Romania

Abstract

In the last 20-25 years the regional economies of the new EU member states were confronted with multiple challenges, from transition to crisis and EU integration. They were reflected by the content of structural transformations and regional policies, closely relating to economic, social and territorial cohesion objectives. This paper proposes a case study in Alba county of Romania, as a relevant example of successful restructuring in a turbulent economic environment. The research methodology has been based on in-depth interviews carried out with representatives of national and local actors as well as on the processing and interpretation of statistical socio-economic data, strategic documents on development strategy, various reports on evaluations of public policies, etc.