This is a special session organised within the RSA Annual Conference. Researchers are invited to submit an abstract if they wish to contribute to this special session. 

The theme: 

Individuals and organisation in Cross-border regions see their natural catchment areas reduced by the mere existence of a border. This is partially due to the existence of cross-border legal and administrative obstacles. Literature has shown the significant consequences of border effect. Following an econometric modelling (e.g. Capello et al (2018)), the Commission’s Communication “Boosting Growth and Cohesion in EU Border Regions” (COM(2017)534) illustrates that “if only 20% of the existing obstacles were removed, border regions would still gain 2% in GDP (…) with potential for over 1 million jobs”.

There is a clear link between border effect and border obstacles (of a legal or administrative nature). Literature on border effect is most frequently measuring its level and its impacts than identifying its causes. In parallel, recent initiatives have identified border obstacles as a causing factor of border effect. Several sources illustrate the importance of border obstacles, either mapping obstacles (e.g. Cross-border review, EC 2015), or mapping cross-border services implicitly showing the obstacles faced (e.g. ESPON 2018). The economic and political relevance is clear. Border obstacles must be addressed in order to facilitate overcoming border effect, thus enabling cross-border regions to reach their potential. To this aim, different mechanisms and initiatives have been set in place with different natures and promoters. Illustrative are the b-solutions initiative, the European Cross-Border Mechanism (COM(2018)373), or the work done by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Exploring: i) how border obstacles cause border effect, and consequentially hamper cross-border regions’ development; ii) how different mechanisms can be better used or shaped in order to become more effective ; are challenges that should also be addressed by regional studies.

The session invites for contributions in this field, namely including (but not limited to):

• Identification of cross-border legal and administrative obstacles;
• Quantification of obstacles’ impact on economic and social development of cross-border regions;
• Assessment of different mechanisms to overcome cross-border obstacles
• Modelling and estimating cross-border flows and assessing how they are hampered by the border;
• Methodologies and practical applications of border effect estimations;
• Assessing the root-causes of border effects and potential policy responses;
• Impacts of Cohesion Policy on reduction of border effects.
• Measuring the quality and effectiveness of cooperation and its governance.

The geographical focus of expected contributions should be on cross-border regions.