Boosting European Competitiveness: The Role of CESEE Countries

In the global financial crisis, competitiveness gaps between Euro area countries caused additional strain. This book discusses the various dimensions of competitiveness, with a special focus on emerging Central, Eastern and Southeastern European countries. For Europe to proceed with convergence and to resist global competitive pressures, it argues that policies to boost productivity and innovation are vital. With products becoming ever more technically sophisticated and global interconnectedness on a relentless rise, it also demonstrates that quality, customer orientation and participation in global production networks and global value chains are at least as important as relative costs and prices. This book delves into the literature and dissects the complexity of competitiveness, aiming to offer tangible policy advice focussed on how well the European economy is performing and how it could improve. The key findings of the book, from a mix of academics and policymakers, constitute a state-of-the-art assessment of competitiveness that may change traditional perceptions of how economies can return to a path of sustainable growth. Comprehensive and forward-looking, this enlightening book will appeal to academics, researchers and policymakers with a particular interest in European economies and economic integration. Contributors include: D. Andrews, B.B. Bakker, I. Begg, M. Belka, K. Benkovskis, Z. Darvas, A. de Serres, M. Gradzewicz, D. Hanzl-Weiss, B.S. Javorcik, A. Kosior, K. Krogulski, M. Landesmann, E. Nowotny, B. Pinto, D. Ritzberger Grünwald, M. Rubaszek, P. Samecki, M. Silgoner, P. Sinclair, K. Vondra, B. Vujcic, J. Wörz, L. Yueh

Table of Contents:
Contents: PART I FRAMING THE DISCUSSION ON THE COMPETITIVENESS CHALLENGE 1. Boosting European Competitiveness Marek Belka, Ewald Nowotny, Doris Ritzberger-Grünwald and Pawel Samecki 2. Harnessing Foreign Direct Investment to Boost Economic Growth Beata S. Javorcik 3. Correcting External Imbalances in the European Economy Doris Hanzl-Weiss and Michael Landesmann PART II THE VARIOUS DIMENSIONS OF COMPETITIVENESS 4. New Indicators of Competitiveness – The Austrian Perspective Doris Ritzberger-Grünwald, Maria Silgoner and Klaus Vondra 5. Globalisation and Growth: The Case of China Linda Yueh 6. Non-price Components of Market Share Gains – Evidence for EU Countries Konstantins Benkovskis and Julia Wörz PART III EU STRUCTURAL POLICIES 7. EU Economic Governance: Euro Area Periphery Lessons for Central and Eastern European Countries Zsolt Darvas 8. EU Structural Policies Today: Missing Piece of the Growth Puzzle, or Wishful Thinking? Brian Pinto 9. EU Structural Policies and Euro Adoption in CEE Countries Anna Kosior and Michał Rubaszek PART IV LABOUR MARKET AND PRODUCTIVITY DEVELOPMENTS 10. Labour Market Integration and Associated Issues: Kipling is Wrong Peter Sinclair 11. Do Jobs Created in CEE Countries Result in Higher Productivity? Michał Gradzewicz 12. Productivity and Competitiveness in CESEE Countries: A Look at the Key Structural Drivers Dan Andrews and Alain de Serres PART V CESEE’S CONTRIBUTION TO GROWTH IN THE EURO AREA AND EUROPE 13. Convergence of ‘New’ EU Member States: Past, Present and Future Bas B. Bakker and Krzysztof Krogulski 14. EU and CEE: Productivity and Convergence Boris Vujčić 15. Peering into the Crystal Ball: Can the CESEE Countries be an Engine of Growth for the EU? Iain Begg Index

About the Author :
Edited by Marek Belka, President, Narodowy Bank Polski, Poland, Ewald Nowotny, former Governor, Oesterreichische Nationalbank, Austria, Pawel Samecki, Management Board Member, Narodowy Bank Polski, Poland and Doris Ritzberger-Grünwald, Director, Oesterreichische Nationalbank, Austria