In this paper we analyze how Western Balkans public finances adapted to the boom-bust cycle. Large capital inflows into emerging European economies during the mid-2000s resulted in rapid economic growth and convergence to EU income levels. This also resulted in improved fiscal positions of most countries, on the back of strong revenue performance. Yet, since the onset of the global economic crisis, many countries have struggled to adjust to the new situation of lower external financing and lower growth.

Government at a Glance: Western Balkans presents information on public governance in the Western Balkan region – covering Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, and compares it to OECD and OECD-EU countries.

Starting point of this book is the observation that an increase in public debt must be accompanied by a rise in the primary surplus of the government to guarantee sustainability of public debt. The book first elaborates on that principle from a theoretical point of view and then tests whether empirical evidence for that rule can be found. Additional tests are implemented to gain further evidence on sustainability of public debt. In order to allow for time varying coefficients penalized spline estimations are performed. The theoretical chapters present endogenous growth models and assume that the primary surplus rises as public debt increases so that sustainability of public debt is given. Implications of public deficits and debt are studied assuming full employment and for unemployment. The conclusion summarizes the findings and compares the results of the different models. Finally, policy implications are given showing how governments should deal with high public debt to GDP ratios.

The Western Balkans region has come a long way over the last two decades in achieving economic and social progress. With a population of 17.6 million, the region today boasts a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of close to EUR 100 billion, an average GDP per capita of about EUR 5 400 and a comprehensive process of integration with the European Union.

Serbia continues to recover well from the energy crisis. The authorities remain committed to policies that will help maintain strong external and fiscal buffers and that will support disinflation. With the planned large increases in public investment, it will be important to further strengthen public investment management and transparency. Additional energy pricing and governance reforms will bolster SOE finances. The authorities will continue to treat the SBA as precautionary.

Traditional financial markets are the most important lever of social and economic impact that can effectively regulate markets, industries, national economies, and international economic interactions, and form global and deeply integrated economic systems. Due to the global spread of financial instability and waves of financial crises, the problems of researching effective financial instruments to ensure national competitiveness becomes highly significant. Global Trends of Modernization in Budgeting and Finance is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the impacts of financial globalization in the context of economic digitalization and national financial markets. While highlighting topics such as entrepreneurship, international business, and socio-economic development, this publication explores modern conditions of rapid technological progress and financial market integration, as well as the methods of increasing regional intergovernmental organization efficiency. This book is ideally designed for policymakers, financial analysts, researchers, academicians, graduate-level students, business professionals, entrepreneurs, scholars, and managers seeking current research on new challenges and developments in national financial markets.

Economic activity in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region is expected to remain resilient but slow this year as a weaker global economy, slowdown in China, and lower commodity prices weigh on the region's growth outlook. Regional growth is likely to drop to 2.8 percent in 2024, following substantial strengthening to 3.3 percent last year because of a shift from contraction to expansion in the Russian Federation and war-hit Ukraine, and a more robust recovery in Central Asia. Regional output growth is projected to moderate further to 2.6 percent in 2025. The outlook faces multiple headwinds. A slower-than-expected recovery in key trading partners, restrictive monetary policies, and exacerbation of geopolitical developments could further dampen growth across the region. Weak productivity growth in ECA in the recent decade has resulted in a sharp slowdown in income convergence with advanced economies. Fundamental drivers of productivity growth, including progress in advancing institutional and market reforms, technology adoption, and innovation, are key for enabling private sector-led growth. Boosting business dynamism in ECA will require addressing several challenges, including upgrading the competitive environment, reducing state involvement in the economy, dramatically boosting the quality of education, and strengthening the availability of finance. While meeting these challenges will look different across countries, addressing them is an essential condition to achieve stronger economic growth and overcome the middle-income trap.

This book explores the key economic issues facing Southeastern Europe and Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the context of the serious challenges that the global economy has faced in recent years. The book combines rigorous analysis of the issues faced by the region with a constructive approach to identifying solutions for a positive future trajectory. The book starts by exploring the economic challenges facing the world economy both before and during the global economic crisis. The second part of the volume focuses on south-eastern Europe, and especially on the Western Balkans, assessing the best ways of achieving a positive economic future for small open economies in the region. The final part of the volume examines the economic challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The final section examines the economic challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina, arguing that it is most useful to view the country within the context of the regional and global economies. The book will be extremely useful for scholars working on European Economics, transition economics, and the global economy and the financial crisis.

Please find a free PDF download available here: http://martenscentre.eu/publications/impact-crisis-eu-perspective-western-balkans Like elsewhere in Europe, the crisis has affected economic developments in the Western Balkans, from Croatia in the north to Albania in the south. The countries in the region face difficulties such as high unemployment, decreased availability of bank credit and reduced trade. Furthermore, the inability of their political institutions to deal immediately with these economic challenges has reinforced the negative effects of the crisis. What does this mean for the Western BalkansÕ accession to and integration within the EU? This paper by Rumiana Jeleva shows that improving the economic situation is an essential precondition for public support for EU integration. At the same time it argues that the pro-European orientation of the Western Balkans ensures that they will continue to look towards the EU, rather than to the US or Russia. This is demonstrated by the fact that they are not merely taking measures to recover from the crisis: they are taking measures that are aligned with European regulations. The Western Balkan countries may have a long way to go to become EU members, but they have proven their commitment to a future within the EU by their pro-European solutions to the crisis. This makes it all the more important for the EU, even in this time of crisis, to continue to support the accession process and bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU.