Higher education effects on regional growth in Poland: panel data estimates

In this paper, we have estimated determinants of real regional per capita growth, with the focus on higher education effects, using a balanced panel data set consisting of 16 Polish voivodships for the period from 2000 to 2015. Our results confirm a strong stimulating impact of the number of students on regional growth, but there is evidence (though rather weak) of a negative effect of the educational variable in changes. Such an outcome provides evidence in favor of the Nelson-Phelps approach, which stipulates positive growth effects of the human capital stock. We also find that higher employment accelerates regional growth, while evidence is rather ambiguous for investments in physical capital. Finally, our results offer evidence to support the convergence hypothesis in Poland