The role of regional readiness for green and digital transitions in shaping attractiveness: a composite index approach

Abstract This paper investigates how regional attractiveness in the European Union is being reshaped by the ongoing digital and green transitions, framing the analysis within the context of regional readiness. We develop a comprehensive regional attractiveness index that integrates traditional socioeconomic indicators with metrics reflecting the regional availability of digital and green assets. Using data for NUTS2 European regions from 2010 to 2022, we assess the evolving influence of these factors. The results show that while regional attractiveness has generally improved, significant disparities persist between urban and rural areas and among different parts of Europe. Robustness checks using principal component analysis and sensitivity analyses highlight how different weightings of the index dimensions influence regional rankings and spatial inequalities. We also examine how different attractiveness pillars correlate to interregional mobility, revealing that while traditional factors maintain a stronger association with work-related mobility, digital assets act as critical emerging drivers for student flows, while green factors show lower levels of correlation. Our findings underline the importance of a balanced policy approach that supports both digital advancement and green development to strengthen territorial capital and ensure equitable regional growth across Europe.