In context with the Eastern enlargement of the European Union this research deals with the
effects of pre- and post-enlargement integration policies on industry concentration and
regional development in Hungary. Economic processes are analysed empirically and by means of
regression analyses with a spatial perspective and in the framework of the new economic
geography over a time span of almost two decades. The results for the manufacturing industries
and for regional specialization show which economic centres played a role for the economic
development of the country over time. The roles which agglomerations and regional
specialization can play are discussed with a view to the problems of cohesion in Hungary the
enlarged EU and future EU accession countries. The conclusions also take into account the
current political and academic debate regarding European regional policy.
