International trade has played a key role in the transition process. Exports were essential for the recovery from the transition shock and sustainable growth depends on the capacity of each country to reap the benefits of the openness to international trade and foreign investment. This book...

Housing finance markets in Central and Eastern European countries are typically small in scale and under-developed, though it is generally recognized that fostering housing finance markets contributes to economic development and brings social benefits to the public. This book presents a...

Housing policies of the central and eastern European countries are changing dramatically. Governments as suppliers of housing for the public are being replaced by market mechanisms in the private sector. To facilitate the development of housing markets, establishing well-functioning housing...

The economic crisis, the second economic shock to hit the Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus region after the collapse of the Soviet Union, has been a warning and a call to action. The region has many advantages and much potential, but some of this was squandered during the boom years of the...

The Western Balkan economies have been implementing reforms to improve their competitiveness since the early 2000s. These reforms contributed to economic growth by removing barriers to trade and investment and facilitating the region’s integration into global markets. This led to a doubling of...

What are the problems faced by SMEs in OECD countries and developing and transition economies in today’s globalising world? What are the framework conditions that influence SMEs’ incentives and capacities to innovate? What is the optimal role of public policy in consolidating and developing...