This book explores the economic and social development of the Western Balkan region, a group of six countries that are potential candidates for EU membership. It focuses on the key economic issues facing these countries, including the challenge of promoting economic growth, limiting public...

This book brings together policymakers, high-level practitioners, academics, and experts from central banks and international institutions in order to review key policy challenges for convergence in the region of central, eastern and south-eastern Europe. Contributions focus especially on...

Contents: Part I A modern take on structural reforms -- 1. Past and future reform challenges for CESEE and Europe at large / Ewald Nowotny, Doris Ritzberger-Grünwald and Helene Schuberth -- 2. Revisiting transition reform / Sergei Guriev -- 3. Europe's moments of truth - wicked crises, good and...

pt. 1. The stability merits of the euro -- pt. 2. A case for rapid euro adoption? -- pt. 3. The euro area- a shelter? Euro assets- a safe haven? -- pt. 4. Lessons- from euro area divergences, and from the crisis -- pt. 5. Post-crisis business models of banks in CEE