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22. Labor Markets in Eastern Europe and Eurasia
- Author:
- Robyn Murphy, Ron Sprout, and Ayo Heinegg
- Publication Date:
- 01-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- United States Agency for International Development
- Abstract:
- This research attempts to look systematically at the available data regarding labor market characteristics of the transition in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. A primary focus is the examination of the data in light of a World Bank working hypothesis that “there are signs of an emerging divide between labor markets in the transition economies of Eastern Europe and those of low-income Eurasian countries.” We find significant labor market gaps and differences between the CEE countries (particularly the Northern Tier CEE) and Eurasia but mixed evidence at best that these gaps are growing. We also find that there remain some key challenges and adverse trends in labor markets even among the Northern Tier CEE countries.
- Topic:
- Development, Economics, and Markets
- Political Geography:
- Eurasia and Eastern Europe
23. Modernizing Municipal Finance of the Kaliningrad Oblast
- Publication Date:
- 01-2007
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- EastWest Institute
- Abstract:
- In 2005–2006 the EastWest Institute (EWI) and the Association of Municipalities of the Kaliningrad Oblast (AMOKO) realized a joint project, «Reforming Municipal Finance of the Kaliningrad Oblast through Performance Budgeting». Carried out with financial support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the project was a contribution to the Russian national program of modernization of budget management systems at the regional and municipal level in accordance with the best world and European practices.
- Topic:
- Development and Economics
- Political Geography:
- Russia, Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia
24. A Conversation with Toomas Hendrik Ilves (CC\' 76), President of the Republic of Estonia and Mikheil Saakashvili (LAW\' 94), President of the Republic of Georgia
- Author:
- Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Mikheil Saakashvili
- Publication Date:
- 09-2007
- Content Type:
- Video
- Institution:
- Columbia University World Leaders Forum
- Abstract:
- President Lee C. Bollinger moderates a discussion between President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and President Mikheil Saakashvili. This event is co-sponsored by the Harriman Institute.
- Topic:
- Economics, Emerging Markets, Politics, Regional Cooperation, and International Affairs
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe, Estonia, and Georgia
25. The Miniskirt and the Veil: Aid and Islam in Bulgaria
- Author:
- Dana Steinberg (ed)
- Publication Date:
- 02-2006
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- The Wilson Center
- Abstract:
- In 1989, while traveling through Spain, Kristen Ghodsee stared in disbelief at the television in the bus station in Barcelona as images appeared of the Berlin Wall crumbling. A year later, she backpacked through Eastern Europe to witness the unprecedented changes in the region. But these countries that held such promise soon suffered economic collapse, and Ghodsee wondered what went wrong.
- Topic:
- Economics, Gender Issues, Islam, and Religion
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe and Bulgaria
26. Monitoring Country Progress in Eastern Europe and Eurasia
- Author:
- Robyn Murphy and Ron Sprout
- Publication Date:
- 09-2006
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- United States Agency for International Development
- Abstract:
- This paper presents an abridged version of USAID/E's 10th edition of its annual report which monitors country progress in the twenty-nine transition country region. The salient findings include: (1) 2005 progress in economic reforms in the transition region was comparable to the good pace of economic reforms in recent years. (2) 2005 data show a continuation of the growing democratization gap between CEE and Eurasia that has been evident since the early transition years. (3) The twenty nine transition countries generally fall into four fairly distinct reform groups: (a) Northern Tier CEE; (b) Southern Tier CEE; (c) Eurasian reformers; and (d) Eurasian non-reformers (Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Uzbekistan). (4) Economic growth rates in the region continue to exceed global norms, and within Eastern Europe and Eurasia, continue to be highest in Eurasia in large part due to favorable primary product trends. (5) Many social indicators continue to recover, apparently at least partly in response to improving economic conditions, including falling poverty and infant mortality rates, and rising real wages and education enrollment rates. (6) Yet many countries are (still) experiencing increasing unemployment rates and the life expectancy gap between CEE and Eurasia continues to grow. (7) And some of the transition countries have among the highest crude death rates worldwide along with among the lowest fertility rates (and birth rates) worldwide.
- Topic:
- Development, Economics, and Health
- Political Geography:
- Eurasia, Eastern Europe, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Belarus
27. Lessons Not Learned: Problems with Western Aid for Law Reform in Postcommunist Countries
- Author:
- Wade Channell
- Publication Date:
- 05-2005
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Abstract:
- THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL IN 1989 and the subsequent breakup of the Soviet Union presented an unparalleled opportunity for fundamental political and economic change in more than two dozen countries. As postcommunist countries sought to attain the economic development of their Western neighbors, it became clear that the existing framework of laws and institutions would not support the desired growth. Reformers and development experts soon identified a panoply of gaps and shortcomings in financial resources, human resources, and organizational capacity, all of which appeared ripe for outside assistance.
- Topic:
- International Relations and Economics
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe, Soviet Union, Portugal, and Berlin
28. From Bound Duties to Actual Protection: Industrial Liberalisation in the Doha Round
- Author:
- Mohamed Hedi Bchir, Lionel Fontagné, and Sébastien Jean
- Publication Date:
- 11-2005
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Centre for European Policy Studies
- Abstract:
- In the background of the Doha Round of trade negotiations, this study proposes a CGE assessment of multilateral liberalisation of market access for non-agricultural products. The scenarios considered include the so-called 'Girard proposal' (with alternative choices for the coefficient involved), the removal of tariff peaks and complete liberalisation. This study is the first to take into account the difference between bound and applied tariffs, while considering all the enforced preferential trade arrangements and computing tariff cuts at the detailed product level (HS-6 classification). Although the liberalisation of market access for non-agricultural products is found to be welfare-enhancing at the world level, cross-country distributive effects prove significant. A soft liberalisation would not significantly reduce applied duties in developing countries, owing to their considerable binding overhang. By contrast, a deep liberalisation would entail fierce price competition among those developing countries that are largely specialised in similar sectors and in the same product quality range.
- Topic:
- Economics, International Trade and Finance, and Treaties and Agreements
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe
29. Collective Bargaining Practices in Eastern Europe: Case Study Evidence from Romania
- Author:
- Aurora Trif
- Publication Date:
- 11-2005
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- European Research Papers Archive
- Abstract:
- There are several studies on recent developments in collective bargaining in Eastern Europe, but there is still a debate about the extent to which collective bargaining practices resemble those in continental Western Europe. This paper aims to contribute to this debate, by examining primary data on collective bargaining practices in Romania using an actor-centred institutionalist approach. It focuses on collective bargaining in four large chemical companies. Comparisons are made to other countries in order to highlight the developments in Romanian cases. Unexpectedly, the study's findings point to an increase in state intervention in establishing the terms and conditions of employment after 1989, due to the state's new roles during the transformation process that affected job security. The study suggests a considerable increase in the influence of top managers in determining pay and working conditions, while trade unions retained the considerable influence over social benefits in large companies. The findings show continuance of certain pre-1989 practices, such as a persistence of high state intervention and a limited independence of the trade unions from the management. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of institutional changes in the context of a shift from a centrally planned economy to a market-based economy.
- Topic:
- Economics, Emerging Markets, and International Trade and Finance
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe and Romania
30. Competition Law and Policy in Turkey
- Publication Date:
- 09-2005
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- Abstract:
- The evolution of Turkey's economy from a government-controlled regime to market-based competition led to the enactment in 1994 of the Act on the Protection of Competition (“Competition Act”) and the creation of the Turkish Competition Authority (“TCA”). Final impetus for the legislation was Turkey's negotiation of a customs union agreement with the European Union, which obliged Turkey to enact the EU's standard competition provisions as its own law and to establish an agency to enforce them.
- Topic:
- Economics, Government, and Markets
- Political Geography:
- Turkey and Eastern Europe