The recession, which started in the USA in autumn 2007, spread to the rest of the world in 2008 and 2009. The Balkan countries were hit hard by the recession. Closely tied to the European Union, they felt the full blow of the crisis in the Eurozone. In a narrow sense, this crisis was caused by weaknesses, contradictions, and inconsistencies of the EMU. In a wider sense, the common denominator of the Great Recession and the crisis in the Eurozone could be found in huge imbalances generated by market fundamentalism and the inability of the neoliberal concept of capitalism to achieve major socioeconomic goals.

The economies of the European countries are still in recession, the development process is at a standstill, companies are facing financial difficulties, and the EU’s monetary policy is tight and focused on lowering inflation. The fiscal problems and high debt levels of the northern European countries are of great importance, and they are the consequences of both the European economy’s structural characteristics and the EU’s policies. The economic area of Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Black Sea countries is also vital, due to its special economic characteristics. The effects of the economic crisis on this particular area are catalytic, while the prospects for recovery are doubtful. The present book deals with the key aspects of the economic crisis in Europe, especially focusing on southeast Europe and the Balkans. The consequences of the crisis in these countries are analyzed and suggestions for how to address the crisis are outlined.

This book analyses Germany’s role in the euro crisis. Based on the perception of Berlin as the emerging capital of the European Union, the author investigates three interrelated issues: Did the German policy approach of imposing austerity programs on countries in the middle of a deep recession contribute to the successful management of the euro crisis? Does Germany extend its sway over its European partners by forcing them to surrender to the German diktat of fiscal Disziplin and economic efficiency? Is the stubborn insistence on rigid fiscal adjustment another ominous sign of the Berlin Republic moving away from the country’s traditional European vocation toward an imperial leadership role? The book’s main argument is that Germany’s role in and responses to the euro crisis can best be explained by different concepts of self, historical memory, and institutional practices.

This book explores the key economic issues facing Southeastern Europe and Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the context of the serious challenges that the global economy has faced in recent years. The book combines rigorous analysis of the issues faced by the region with a constructive approach to identifying solutions for a positive future trajectory. The book starts by exploring the economic challenges facing the world economy both before and during the global economic crisis. The second part of the volume focuses on south-eastern Europe, and especially on the Western Balkans, assessing the best ways of achieving a positive economic future for small open economies in the region. The final part of the volume examines the economic challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The final section examines the economic challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina, arguing that it is most useful to view the country within the context of the regional and global economies. The book will be extremely useful for scholars working on European Economics, transition economics, and the global economy and the financial crisis.

This proceedings book presents selected papers from the 10th international conference on the "Economies of the Balkan and Eastern European Countries in the Changing World" (EBEEC), held in Warsaw, Poland, in May 2018. In addition to discussing the latest research, it includes papers adopting a wide variety of theoretical approaches and empirical methodologies and covering a number of key areas, such as international economics, economic growth, finance and banking, insurance, healthcare, agriculture, labor and energy markets, innovation, management and marketing. In addition, the authors discuss policy instruments and best practices for the region. This book appeals to scholars and students in fields of economics and finance as well as practitioners interested in the development of the region.

The book presents a multifaceted analysis of the social security system in the Balkan states and offers a comprehensive overview and recommendations on social problems in the region.

This Brief provides a survey of key political, social, and economic issues affecting the Western Balkans region. Taking a two-pronged conceptual approach focusing on fragmentation and integration, the volume highlights commonalities and differences in a number of simultaneous dynamics currently characterizing the region: Europeanization and EU access, market integration, and migration and socio-demographic transformations. Stressing the interconnectedness of these issues, the volume synthesizes key questions for the future of the region, such as the relationship between socio-demographic trends and economic development, the effects of depopulation on further EU integration, and the economic and political repercussions of enhanced intra-regional trade. Explicitly interdisciplinary, this Brief will be useful for researchers and students specializing in the Balkans and Western Balkans, post-socialist countries, European affairs, enlargement, foreign policy, international relations, regional studies, economics, economic transition, and socio-demographics.