Assessments of exchange rate misalignments and external imbalances for low-income countries are challenging because methodologies developed for advanced and emerging economies cannot be automatically applied to poorer nations. This paper uses a large database, unique in the set of indicators and...

The sustainable growth of economic competitiveness as a whole and of industry, in particular, is of paramount importance for Romania. A look at the literature reveals that although there is no consensus in defining and measuring competitiveness, many studies focus on competitiveness i) in a...

In March 2013, a decrease in prices on the main commodities of the Russian export and slow-down of growth in the solvent demand as compared to March 2013 resulted in a reduction of the main indices of the Russian foreign trade. The Customs Union states have started to use more often the...

Until recently the Russian economy was one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The economic growth brought an improvement in the standard of living of the average Russian citizen and also brought an economic stability that Russia had not experienced in at least a decade. This strong...

The purpose of the current paper is to highlight possible engines that can boost Romanian foreign trade from a chronic deficit to a more balanced one. In the beginning, the main theories and models that tackle this subject will be presented. In this respect, the paper starts with Smith, Ricardo,...

English SummarySluggish International Business Climate A Test for the Central and Eastern European Countries' Endurance The Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) were able to maintain in 2001 and 2002 a growth rate significantly above that of the EU 15. The more developed group of CEECs...

External determinants Two key factors currently affect the economic prospects of CESEE the crisis in the euro area and movements in the commodity prices. For Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine declining world market prices of energy carriers, steel and other basic commodities are vital. For most of...

A functioning Belarus-Russia-Kazakhstan Customs Union (BRK-CU) would comprise the bulk of the FSU economy and represent a significant step towards an attempted re-integration of the FSU – even more so if Ukraine were also to join. There are still important structural differences in...

This paper discusses the transition agenda and provides the key economic characteristics of selected Middle East and North Africa countries (MENA) in comparison with selected Central, East and Southeast European countries (CESEE). We intend to identify some regularities in transition processes...

(Report based on Background Study for European Competitiveness Report 2012, see http //ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/industrial-competitiveness/competitiveness-analysis/european-competitiveness-report/index_en.htm) Summary Countries belonging to the European neighbourhood are highly diverse....