DEVELOPMENT AND CONVERGENCE OF THE FORMER GDR AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA

The purpose of the article is to compare the level of regional growth and convergence of the former GDR and Czechoslovakia. This is delivered by evaluating the recent development of selected EU member-states related to financial support from the EU - firstly the German regions as part of a larger state entity and secondly the Czech and Slovak regions as parts of separate states. Five indicators are selected for comparative assessment of the growth and convergence of the NUTS 2 (regional GDP per capita, unemployment rate, employment in the high tech sector, human resources in science and technologies and disposable household income). The allocation of the EU financial support into the selected countries is analyzed apart. It appears, the inclusion of regions of an independent state (GDR) into larger, stronger and more developed economy (Germany) may not necessarily mean a higher growth rate and increasing regional convergence in all directions.