Urban-rural divide is growing in main EU countries

Outlook

Nine out of ten of the poorest regions in Northern Europe are located in the United Kingdom. In the majority of these regions over 50% voted for Brexit, indicative of voter disillusionment over declining purchasing power.

A recent EU study shows that regional inequality and rural depopulation are key voter concerns ahead of the European Parliament elections on May 23-26. At the domestic level, regional inequality will play a major role in future elections, in particular given its role in fuelling the rise of populist parties and anti-establishment movements such as the yellow vests in France.

Impacts

• Regional inequality risks extinguishing small municipalities over time.
• This fear and the general sense of 'being left behind' provides an opportunity for political parties to become the agents of change.
• However, political disillusionment could instead create movements that reject any form of political or institutional representation.