The article discusses various aspects of regional growth and economic integration, including labor markets, monetary integration, tax competition, foreign direct investment, education, research, and innovation. The researchers analyze the integration of Eastern European economies in the EU, model interest rate transmission dynamics in Greece, and explore the effects of innovation activities on regional integration. Key findings include the importance of knowledge-based approaches to economic integration, the role of information communication technologies in regional convergence, and the challenges and prospects for an integrated Europe. Additionally, the article examines financial autonomy of local governments, free trade agreements, and welfare reform implications in the US.