Southeastern European Countries Research Articles

DEVELOPMENT OF SUB-MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Local self-government is established as an institutional answer to create balance to the central government and improve democratic and development processes in the local community and the entire national society. On the other hand, sub-municipal government is established as a part of local political decentralization, with the aim of strengthening local political and administrative institutions of local government units. Both can be institutional solutions and an answer for initializing and supporting democratic processes in contemporary society. This article provides analysis of relations between political decentralization in local community and sub-municipal government as a tool for strengthening local political institutions in South-Eastern European countries. This analysis aims to show that sub-municipal government can be also a significant institutional instrument for changes in the local community.

Financial Literacy and Economic Growth: How Eastern Europe is Doing?

Abstract In this study, we aim to analyse financial literacy as a driver of financial wellbeing and economic growth in three of the most recent EU Member States, namely Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia. Our particular interest in studying more in-depth these three countries is generated by their difficult pathway in the transition to the Euro and economic convergence on one side and by the limited analysis carried out so far in relation to them on the other side. Various studies indicate that financial literacy is associated with wealth accumulation, and financial education can help achieve economic growth. To conduct the empirical analysis, in this study, we have used primary data provided by the OECD for our specific research purposes. The raw data were collected in a survey carried out in 2019 in seven South Eastern European countries reaching over 1,000 respondents for each country. We used two-stage least-squares regression to test our hypothesis and cluster analysis for comparisons among countries. Conclusions of our research reveal the main differences between countries in terms of financial literacy and reverse causality between financial literacy and economic growth for the analysed countries. Finally, the study gives some insights into the future design of public policies on financial education in these countries.

Does the Remittance Generate Economic Growth in the South East European Countries?

This paper aims to examine the causal relationships between remittances and economic growth in 10 Southeast European developing countries, including Greece as a developed country. The research uses various econometric techniques, such as OLS, fixed-effects model, random-effects model, and Hausman-Taylor IV estimators. The regression results have shown up that there is a positive link between remittances and economic growth in 10 Southeastern European countries. Findings support the hypothesis that the remittance inflows generate economic growth in 10 Southeast European countries. Despite this, a positive relationship is also revealed between foreign direct investment, final consumption expenditure, gross capital formation, exports, and economic growth. The only exchange rate does not have a causal link on economic growth, meaning that the exchange rate does not affect economic growth. Since the remittances have a positive effect on the economic growth, and they represent a large source of external financing in Southeast European countries, the government should implement the right policies to reflect on encouraging and channelizing the remittance inflows for investment purposes, which in turn lead to a reduction of migration and unemployment. The study is original and makes effort to promote the role and significance of remittance inflows in the Southeast European developing countries, including Greece. The findings of the study might be valuable for Governments of these countries and other policymakers to channels remittances for investment purposes.

How do prices of manufactured cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco affect demand for these products? Tobacco price elasticity in Western Balkan countries

Background and objectiveNumerous studies have indicated that tobacco taxation is one of the most important policies to reduce tobacco consumption. However, its effectiveness crucially depends on consumer responses to price...

Classifying European cigarette consumption trajectories from 1970 to 2015

ObjectivesTo systematically code and classify longitudinal cigarette consumption trajectories in European countries since 1970.DesignBlinded duplicate qualitative coding of periods of year-over-year relative increase, plateau, and decrease of national per capita...

The Impact of Education on Youth Employability: The Case of Selected Southeastern European Countries

This paper focuses on the processes of school-to-work transitions in a selected group of countries from South-eastern Europe (SEE), namely: Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Montenegro; North Macedonia; Serbia; and, Slovenia. Each of these countries display the same roots of development in their educational systems: however, due to their transition and integration processes within the European Union, they implemented different concepts of reforms within their educational systems. In addition, the challenges of youth employability are a common problem for each of the selected countries, and the effectiveness of the processes of school-to-work-transition varies across the countries. By using panel data and multiple linear regression models, this paper estimates the impact of different educational levels on youth employability and changes in the rates of NEET population (aged 15–24) in the selected group of countries over the period 2009 to 2019. The results suggest that the impact of the attained level of education has an ambiguous effect on the rates of youth employment; moreover, the relationship with changes in NEET rates are statistically significant and negative in most of the selected group of countries.

New Dynamics of Great-Power Energy Politics in South-Eastern Europe: The EU versus the US and Russia?

South-Eastern European (SEE) countries are typically keen to maintain the status quo in their energy systems, generally characterized by underinvestment, high coal share and utility affordability needs. Their energy mixes have historically been determined by external factors, currently mainly related to decarbonization pressure. This article assesses how the EU’s ongoing decarbonization-driven withdrawal from supporting natural gas projects shapes fuel choices in nine selected SEE countries and may have geopolitical consequences. It is based on more than 70 interviews with stakeholders from these countries, EU institutions, and international organizations. In exploring and theorizing the geopolitical ramifications of the energy transition in SEE, it applies a novel approach, which draws on theories of power and the concept of an assemblage, which we link to theories on entanglement and disentanglement. We find that the EU’s climate policy significantly changes local infrastructural assemblages and the EU’s disentanglement from natural gas goes against Russian and US efforts. By wielding its power to support such an energy transition, the EU has shifted the bipolar system ‘EU/US vis-à-vis Russia’ defined along a single geopolitical ruleset (supply security), to a tripolar disposition ‘EU-Russia-USA’ defined along two rulesets (supply security and climate policy). In addition, China has become involved. States will thus have to take crucial energy policy decisions in a new geopolitical context.

Is reindustrialization a realistic path? An empirical insight from South-Eastern Europe

The global economy has been faced with two dramatic crises (the global financial crisis and the pandemic), and it is still suffering. As an answer to the first crisis, the European Union formulated reindustrialization as a development approach, by which it wanted to strengthen its position on the world market, with the aim of manufacturing achieving a 1/5 share of the GDP. During the last decade, results have differed among the member countries, as well among the candidates for membership. Some countries have continued the trend of deindustrialization, while others have succeeded in starting reindustrialization. However, what is clear is the fact that achieving the goal defined is a challenge for all. There are economists who argue that this goal is not only unrealistic, but even not useful. The paper presents a comparative analysis exploring the development characteristics of several countries in South-Eastern Europe (SEE): Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia, using a meta-analysis in a synthesis of the results of this empirical research. It also shows a regression analysis and correlation analysis using the IBM SPSPS 28 software package. The paper analyzes whether the countries considered follow the trend of deindustrialization or reindustrialization, and it examines and tests whether a higher share of manufacturing within the GDP results in a higher rate of growth. The results show that all the countries under consideration have already fulfilled the aim of manufacturing having a 20% share of their GDP (except Montenegro). At the same time all of the countries, except two (Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia), have experienced a deindustrialization trend. The paper could be useful for policy makers in South-Eastern European Countries as well other transitory/transitional countries as they create reindustrialization policies in line with the EU industrial policy.

Tourism Persistence in the Southeastern European Countries: The Impact of COVID-19

Tourism Persistence in the Southeastern European Countries: The Impact of COVID-19

Международные отношения в Восточной Европе: проблемы, методы, контуры исследования и перспективы развития

The editors of the introduction substantiate the themes, problems,and methodology of the study of the development of international relations in Eastern Europe. The authors justify the chronological framework of the research, the topics and problems, the structure of the materials, the general characteristics of the sources used by the authors, and gives a description of the research methods. The authors' team consists of representatives of various disciplines – historians, internationalists, political scientists, diplomats, working both in research institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences and in scientific and pedagogical institutions. The focus is on the period 2014–2021 – the turn in relations between Russia and the West (NATO and the EU), including the countries of Central-Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine up to the sharp aggravation of relations at the regional and global levels, which manifested and, in part, the cause of which was the Russian military operation on the territory of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The studies included in this issue are written on the basis of different types of sources – official documents (international treaties, declarations, diplomatic and political documents of Russia, EU and NATO, Central Eastern and South-Eastern European countries, media materials, journalism, scientific and analytical works. On the basis of these materials the general picture of the international relations in the East (Central-Eastern and South-Eastern Europe) during the specified period is created, the essence of various forms of interaction of the countries of the region between themselves, with the Russian Federation and the European and Euro-Atlantic structures, and also the essence of global and Eurasian relations is revealed.

Forecasting analysis of selected health- and economy-related indicators in South Eastern European and Balkan countries

Background/Aim. Health indicators provide comparable in-formation relevant to defining health goals. The aim of this study was to perform a forecasting analysis of the selected indicators, which could help anticipate the future necessities in the health economy and prevent the problems that would predictively grow in the future. Methods. Health indicators are collected from publicly available databases of the World Health Organization and Eurostat. We used the quantitative forecasting technique, commonly used for historical data, to predict several years in the future concerning selected health- and economy-related indicators. Results. Total health expenditures as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025 will increase in most of the 17 surveyed countries. The percentage of direct household budget payments (out-of-pocket) for health services will decrease in half of the countries, while values of GDP expressed in US$ will increase significantly com-pared to the last surveyed year (2017), except in Greece. The infant mortality indicator shows that the numbers will decrease in each surveyed country, while the urban population percent-age will rise almost in each country except Estonia. Life expectancy will increase in each surveyed country. Conclusion. Health- and economy-related indicators must be monitored over time, as they provide significant information concerning the relevant issues in the health care system. Moreover, they may indicate changes that should be made in order to accomplish progress in each individual country.

The Fate of the Danube Swabian Minority in Southeastern Europe with special regard to the German Minority in Yugoslavia after World War II

The 18^th century in Europe can be understood as a period of frequent and substantial German emigrations. The Austrian-Hungarian and the Russian Empire looked for colonists to increase fairly unpopulated areas of their realms. Young and enterprising people from the South-West of the then existing Holy Roman Empire were attracted and used the opportunity to emigrate to fairly empty regions of the Kingdom of Hungaria, among different ethnic groups. Over the centuries, they increased in number and in prosperity. Since then peoples, states and nations of that part of Europe underwent considerable changes in extension and political structure, and the German minorities, with them the later so-called Danube Swabian population, were separated several times and added to various national states with their majorities, so that the ethnic Germans had to struggle for their ethnic heritage among different national languages and political creeds. Finally, the Second World War with the strong influence of the German National Socialists and ultimately, the total change of the Southeastern European countries to communism brought expropriation, execution, deportation, internment, torture, starvation. The highest death rate was among the German minority in Yugoslavia, especially among the Danube Swabians. After these historical reports, this essay focuses on the various historical perspectives of the history of the Danube Swabian group after WWII and develops the view of the author as a historian and witness of the times of the 1940es in Yugoslavia and Serbia.

Challenges of physical and digital integration TEN-T networks in Southeast European countries

This paper analyzes the problems of digital and physical integration of the road infrastructure Trans-European Networks Transport (TEN-T) in Southeast Europe and the challenges in its implementation. The specificity of the TEN-T network in Southeast Europe is that it connects EU member states (Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece) and Western Balkans countries that are not members of the EU (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania). The EU member states of Southeast Europe have completed the physical connection of the road infrastructure of the TEN-T network and are implementing the digitization of transport processes by developing intelligent transport systems (ITS) based on a single European framework ITS architecture by implementing the EU Directives and the ITS development action plan. The challenges of physical and digital integration of the TEN-T network of Southeast Europe are reflected in the digital connection of the transport systems of EU member states that have implemented a large number of ITS services based on the European FRAME ITS architecture and the European regulatory framework and standards for the development of ITS with the transport systems of countries of the Western Balkans, which are in the initial phase of ITS development and do not have a regulatory and technical framework for the implementation of ITS harmonized with the EU. The integration of isolated ITS services on the TEN-T network of the Western Balkan countries into a single national ITS system will bring new challenges in terms of their physical and logical upgrading and their harmonization with the regulatory framework and technical standards of the EU. The countries of the Western Balkans face the challenges of developing national ITS architectures, which should be based on the European FRAME ITS architecture to achieve interoperability of ITS services and enable access to the European market of ITS services and equipment. This paper aims to look at the challenges of physical and digital integration of the TEN-T network of South-Eastern European countries and to propose a possible scenario for solving them.

What Makes an Ethnographer? Institutionalized Teaching and Informal Learning of Anthropology in Romania

The processes of disciplinary institutionalization emerged from practices of preserving written and oral documents, establishing local and national museums, and developing university courses. In the last 100 years, archives’ development assured the professionalization of scholars interested in disciplines unrepresented at the university level, such as ethnography and anthropology. After the 1990s, as the South-Eastern European countries could not imagine an alternative path of development, a westernization process emerged as the main strategy for catching-up with Western Europe.
 My paper discusses the institutionalized anthropological and ethnographic research agenda in Romania, questioning its relationships with other social sciences in the context of national development of ethnography as a distinct branch (e.g., from anthropology). Secondly, I argue that institutionalized ethnographic and anthropological practice in Romania during communism significantly lacked reflective assessments and development of a theoretical corpus.

Czech Relations with the Nations and Countries of South-eastern Europe

Czech Relations with the Nations and Countries of South-eastern Europe

Science rejection in Greece: Spirituality predicts vaccine scepticism and low faith in science in a Greek sample.

Recent research has identified spirituality as an important contributor to vaccine scepticism and low faith in science, particularly in WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic) nations. In the present study, we further tested the generalizability of these findings in a religious South-Eastern European country - Greece, with more extensive measures of key constructs. We replicate previous work using measures of improved construct validity. Spirituality was found to be the strongest predictor of vaccine scepticism and low faith in science. In addition, low science literacy was also predictive of vaccine rejection. Climate change scepticism was not associated with spirituality but with political conservatism, which corroborates previous findings. These results provide further evidence for two previously made observations: science scepticism is heterogeneous, and spirituality is an important factor in shaping science rejection.

The Eastern European Automotive Industry in a Post-Pandemic World: What Drives Performance?

The automotive industry is one of the key drivers of economic growth in countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe, with contributions of up to 15% of gross domestic product. At the same time, the automotive industry is at the heart of key transformations: new technologies on the horizon at the verge of the global “green deal”; supply chain uncertainties because of the effects of pandemics in Asia; and unpredictable demand side factors ranging from purchasing power to consumer preferences. These aspects, coupled with large, fixed investments and costly distribution channels, put the industry at the core of (radical) change initiatives. Ahead of these changes, our paper investigated the presence of firm, industry, and country effects on the profitability of firms in the automotive industry in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern European countries, considering different industry definitions and firm size. We found that firm effects are significant for profitability variation across companies, but differ in intensity based on the size of the company, which signals that firm size matters significantly as a driver of operational profitability, as it is converted into sustained competitive advantages. While industry effects bear very little significance for profitability variation in the automotive industry, our most surprising finding was that country effects are important for profitability and have more of an impact for smaller companies. This may be the consequence of “historical” factors that led to large Original Equipment Manufacturers setting up their manufacturing facilities in the region, but also of specific economic policies in the form of state aid addressed to the automotive industry.
 Keywords: automotive industry, profitability, Central and South-Eastern Europe, variance components, industry effects, country effects

Pediatric Dentists' Service Provisions in South-East Europe during the First Wave of COVID-19 Epidemic: Lessons Learned about Preventive Measures and Personal Protective Equipment Use.

Introduction: Having in mind the importance of providing continuous pediatric dental services during the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that children have similar viral loads to adults, the potential to spread the virus to others, and with variable clinical presentation of COVID-19 infection, this study aimed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on pediatric dentistry service provision, risks, and preventive measures before and during dental treatment. Method: Structured and closed epidemiological cross-sectional survey involved seven Southeastern European countries. The questionnaire was developed using the modified Delphi method, pretested, and tested in North Italy during April 2020. The sample consisted of licensed dental professionals reached via national dental chambers and social media using the best strategies according to the national setting. Results: A total of 3227 dentists participated in the survey, and we included 643 specialists in this study—among them, 164 were pediatric dentists. Most pediatric dentists worked in the public sector (61.0%) and provided emergency (64.6%) and routine dental treatment (18.3%) during the outbreak. One-third of pediatric dentists were COVID-19 tested, statistically significantly more than other specialties, and 3.0% tested COVID-19 positive. In addition, significantly more pediatric dentists (13.4%) reported the presence of at least one symptom related to COVID-19 compared to other specialists (6.1%). None of the pediatric dentists reported PPE shortage. However, 26.2% of all specialists stated that they lacked clear step by step professional guidance in a national language. Similarly, in both groups, around 10% of specialists attended education on coronavirus. Conclusions: Considering that most pediatric dentists provided dental treatment during lockdown in their countries in public health centers and that they will continue to work during pandemic, our results suggest that pediatric dentists might be at higher risk of COVID-19 infection. Further research should focus on finding better ways to promote and adapt preventive, protective measures and PPE in the pediatric dental setting to be behaviorally acceptable. Moreover, additional efforts should be invested in dental education regarding COVID-19 in the mother tongue.

Retrospective analysis and time series forecasting with automated machine learning of ascariasis, enterobiasis and cystic echinococcosis in Romania.

The epidemiology of neglected tropical diseases (NTD) is persistently underprioritized, despite NTD being widespread among the poorest populations and in the least developed countries on earth. This situation necessitates thorough and efficient public health intervention. Romania is at the brink of becoming a developed country. However, this South-Eastern European country appears to be a region that is susceptible to an underestimated burden of parasitic diseases despite recent public health reforms. Moreover, there is an evident lack of new epidemiologic data on NTD after Romania’s accession to the European Union (EU) in 2007. Using the national ICD-10 dataset for hospitalized patients in Romania, we generated time series datasets for 2008–2018. The objective was to gain deep understanding of the epidemiological distribution of three selected and highly endemic parasitic diseases, namely, ascariasis, enterobiasis and cystic echinococcosis (CE), during this period and forecast their courses for the ensuing two years. Through descriptive and inferential analysis, we observed a decline in case numbers for all three NTD. Several distributional particularities at regional level emerged. Furthermore, we performed predictions using a novel automated time series (AutoTS) machine learning tool and could interestingly show a stable course for these parasitic NTD. Such predictions can help public health officials and medical organizations to implement targeted disease prevention and control. To our knowledge, this is the first study involving a retrospective analysis of ascariasis, enterobiasis and CE on a nationwide scale in Romania. It is also the first to use AutoTS technology for parasitic NTD.

THE EFFICIENCY OF ONLINE LEARNING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AS PARTICIPANTS IN THE NEW PATH OF EDUCATION

The focus of this research is education during the coronavirus pandemic in Southeastern European countries (Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia). It encompasses elementary education, high schools and higher education. The aim of the research is multiple. With it, we want to present methods of distance learning during the pandemics in the above mentioned countries, challenges and advantages that have emerged, as well as potential solutions for removing faults. This is primarily qualitative research relying on several methods. We conducted interviews to understand the experiences of different stakeholders participating in the education process. This research also relies on quantitative data, i.e. researches doing by The University of Prishtina, Pedagogical Institute of Kosovo, as well as results of opinion polls and research conducted by Student Parliament and Senate of the University of Sarajevo. Their research was conducted throughout the academic year 2020/2021. Also, we compiled different texts from media, as well as statements from different stakeholders. Our method is primarily inductive – because in some cases general ideas and conclusions about distance learning in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are based on different individual examples. Information in this research in relation to the section on North Macedonia is mainly based on three sources: Data from the website of Ministry for Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia; Morphosis Foundation Survey from September 2020 entitled Status and Challenges for Managing Online Teaching in Primary School; and Findings from the research with directors, teachers, and parents: Experience and Attitudes about Distance Learning, a document prepared by Reactor. Our key conclusion is that Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia were not an exception regarding to the problems that arose during the pandemic in terms of education, such as online teaching, adapting students to new learning conditions, training of teachers for teaching in extraordinary and new circumstances, assessment criteria, etc. However, the situation has also brought opportunities to re-think existing education models and to find new solutions at schools and universities.