The extensive growth model introduced under central planning in the 1950s resulted in rapid industrialization and initially high growth. The efforts to bring the banking system on a sound footing following the 1996-97 crises have hardened budget constraints, but they have yet to result in a reorientation of banking sector activities toward private sector lending. The following statistical data are presented in detail: industrial sector, services by branches, income accounts, financial performance of state-owned enterprises, monetary survey, the exchange rates, and so on.

This paper assesses key aspects of Bulgaria’s competitiveness. The behavior of a variety of a real exchange rate indicators and export performance is also examined in this study. The Balassa–Samuelson effect refers to the impact of differential productivity growth rates in the tradables and nontradables sectors on the real exchange rate. The following statistical data are also included in detail: total and private agricultural production, income accounts, labor force, employment and unemployment, monetary survey, foreign assets of the banking system, and so on.

This publication considers the range of financing options available for the design of cost-effective and equitable social welfare systems, giving a thorough analysis of their advantages and disadvantages and their financial and economic implications. Written by practitioners for practitioners, the book discusses the design and maintenance of national social protection systems that seek to ensure effective and efficient use of available resources at the community, national and international levels while supporting long-term economic development. The book explores theoretical and practical policy questions, as well as looking at the policy process that determines the affordable levels of and scope of social protection in a given country.