ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the existing literature on the factors conditioning Cohesion Policy and its impacts in order to develop an agenda for future research in this field and inform an evidence-based debate on the future of this policy. The discussion of the general methodological challenges to the study of Cohesion Policy and its impacts is followed by the critical review of some key contributions on the contextualization and counterfactual identification of policy impacts. The chapter discusses the gaps and possible synergies between these distinct approaches and presents some ideas for a research agenda in this field. Existing empirical studies on Cohesion Policy share a common set of challenges that are linked to the complexity of the policy, its nature, design and practical functioning. Putting Cohesion Policy in context makes it necessary to assess its links to social and economic outcomes by taking full account of the direct and indirect influence of a broad set of territorial factors.
