The rapid journey from central planning to EU (euro area) membership stress-tested the social learning processes of FTEs. The desire to be anchored to the West, and to enter the EU spurred major reform waves and led to the introduction of best practice institutions very rapidly. This process...

Since the mid-1990s, Italy's economic growth faltered, primarily due to sluggish productivity growth. This article investigates the root causes of the slow growth. Firstly, it benchmarks Italy over time vis-à-vis euro area and OECD countries in the area of human capital, product market...

The paper analyzes foreign exchange market volatility in four Central European EU accession countries in 2001-2003. By using a Markov regime-switching model, it identifies two regimes representing high- and low-volatility periods. The estimation results show not only that volatilities are...

This paper discusses the foundations for a medium-term fiscal framework for Bulgaria, a transition economy aspiring to join the European Union. The paper argues that a well-designed framework can help to enhance the credibility of macroeconomic policies and facilitate preparations for EU...

1. Introduction -- 2. Convergence of the EU member states in Central-Eastern and South Eastern Europe (EU11): a framework for convergence inside a close regional cooperation -- 3. Towards a new growth model in CESEE: three challenges ahead -- 4. Regional dynamics in EU11 -- 5. How the European...

1.Introduction -- 2.The economic impact of Single Market membership on the EU enlargement countries -- 3. FDI as force of convergence in the CESEE countries -- 4.The impact of EU cohesion funds on macroeconomic development in the Visegrad countries after the 2008-2009 financial crisis -- 5. The...

The introduction of effective, competitive and innovative financial systems will be a key factor in the economic success, or failure, of Central and Eastern Europe. This important volume presents a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of the development of financial systems in the region with...

Banking in Transition Economies is a modern analysis of banking in the transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe and includes a detailed examination of banking in the first five years of transition as well as policy recommendations for banking reform in the region.