Distinguishing “good” pupils from “bad” ones: The structural funds’ attribution mechanisms as managerial differentiation tool

This article analyses the criteria and attribution mechanisms of structural funds at the local level. During the last two decades, this question has become an important issue for the EU member states. The EU Cohesion Policy, with now a significant budget at the European level, uses these structural funds to offer financial solutions for local projects driven in different areas (environment, economic development, cultural policies, etc.). Based on a field survey conducted in three French regions, this article aims to demonstrate how structural funds differentiate local project holders according to managerial criteria and how this distinction impacts on their internal functioning.