In this paper, first we investigate to which extent the real exchange rate is distorted in the 7 Southeast European countries (SEECs), and compare the findings with other countries in Europe. Second, we shed light into possible determinants and effects of the real exchange rate distortions....

Based on the theoretical foundations as described in Bhagwati (1974), illegal trade can be defined to consist of faked invoicing on the one hand and smuggling on the other hand. While in the first case at least one of the trading partner countries has recorded a trade flow either as an export or...

In this paper, the global simulation model (GSIM) by Francois and Hall (2003) for the analysis of global, regional and unilateral trade policy changes was applied to the countries of Southeast Europe in order to measure the costs of protection in the region. The model is a multiregion, imperfect...

This paper presents and applies a new indicator of the size of the shadow economy based on the estimation of tax compliance in the household sector. These estimates are performed for the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe using 2001 data. Estimates of income declaration rates...

The elasticity of the new EU Member States’ imports implications for external rebalancing in Europe (by Leon Podkaminer) State aid and export competitiveness in the EU – first results (by Roman Stöllinger and Mario Holzner) European financial policy, as if banking mattered (Further notes on...

This paper looks at the experience of South East Europe which – for the purposes of this paper – includes the former states of Yugoslavia except for Slovenia (i.e. Croatia, Serbia-Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Macedonia), Albania, and the two EU candidate countries, Bulgaria and...

Summary Industrial policies in the EU have markedly shifted towards ‘horizontal’ measures and framework polices. The sustained de-industrialisation of several European economies and a general perception that countries with a strong manufacturing base emerged from the crisis in a strengthened...

No take-off in Central, East and Southeast Europe so far (by Vasily Astrov) Albania the remedy is worse than the disease? (by Mario Holzner) Bosnia and Herzegovina still making up its mind (by Vladimir Gligorov) Kazakhstan low oil prices create devaluation pressure (by Olga Pindyuk) Kosovo...

The dark side of the Balkans (the shadow economy in Southeastern Europe) (by Edward Christie and Mario Holzner) Are CEECs trapped in low-quality export specialization? (by Uwe Dullek, Neil Foster, Robert Stehrer and Julia Wörz) Do interest rate differentials determine the movements in the...

Convergence and labour demand employment projections for the new EU member states up to 2012 (by Robert Stehrer) Countries covered Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania Topics Labour and Migration Structures and sectoral linkages in selected new and old...