Client: Ministry of Finance
Period: 2023
The study is the final evaluation of the Cohesion Policy Operational Programme 2014-2020, priority axis “Sustainable urban-regional development”. There were two measures under this priority, the first targeting the urban areas of Tallinn, Tartu and Pärnu, and the second targeting the urban areas of Kohtla-Järve/Jõhvi and Narva.
The goals of the measures were to alleviate kindergarten waiting lists, promote sustainable modes of transportation, and revitalise underutilised areas within urban regions. Although certain results – like built square meters, kilometres of roads, and developed square meters of areas – have been achieved through these measures, broader goals are falling short. The performance indicator for sustainable mobility remains unfulfilled primarily due to a mismatch between the objectives and selected projects. Similarly, the target to reduce waiting times for childcare and nursery schools remains unachieved, largely because of unforeseen population changes.
To evaluate the projects’ impacts, we employed a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Among other approaches, the synthetic control group method was used to examine if municipalities with implemented kindergarten and nursery projects witnessed a greater increase in childcare and nursery school attendance than similar synthetic municipalities without such projects. Additionally, we analysed real estate prices near revitalisation projects in comparison to municipality real estate prices.
The study was commissioned by the Ministry of Finance (at the time of study completion, the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture) and funded through the technical assistance resources of the European Union structural funds (Project 2014-2020.13.01.15-0006).