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Boosting Job Growth in the Western Balkans

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Listed:
  • Dmitriy Kovtun
  • Alexis Meyer-Cirkel
  • Ms. Zuzana Murgasova
  • Mr. Dustin Smith
  • Suchanan Tambunlertchai

Abstract

Labor markets in the Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia) are characterized by some of the highest unemployment and low employment rates in Europe. We analyze the poor labor market outcomes in these countries by comparison with the New Member States of the European Union and advanced European economies. Our findings suggest that long-lasting labor market weaknesses in the Western Balkans have structural roots: the institutional setup of the labor markets, labor cost factors, and especially the unfinished transition process. Finally, we offer policy recommendations for boosting job creation.

Suggested Citation

  • Dmitriy Kovtun & Alexis Meyer-Cirkel & Ms. Zuzana Murgasova & Mr. Dustin Smith & Suchanan Tambunlertchai, 2014. "Boosting Job Growth in the Western Balkans," IMF Working Papers 2014/016, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2014/016
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Marija Buselic & Jurica Bosna, 2019. "Defining the Unemployment Determinants of the Post-Transition Central European EU Member Countries," Managing Global Transitions, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 17(1 (Spring), pages 79-103.
    3. Vukšić, Goran & Holzner, Mario, 2016. "Trade and fiscal imbalances in Southeastern Europe: Can fiscal devaluation help?," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 568-581.
    4. Peter Howard-Jones & Jens Hölscher & Dragana Radicic, 2017. "Firm Productivity In The Western Balkans: The Impact Of European Union Membership And Access To Finance," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 62(215), pages 7-52, October –.
    5. Zsóka Kóczán, 2018. "Late to the Game? Capital Flows to the Western Balkans," Croatian Economic Survey, The Institute of Economics, Zagreb, vol. 20(2), pages 33-67, December.
    6. Romeo-Victor Ionescu, 2015. "Eu Balkan Member States’ Catching Up Process In The Context Of Europe 2020 Strategy," Annals of University of Craiova - Economic Sciences Series, University of Craiova, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 2(43), pages 43-56.
    7. Eva Padrosa & Mireia Bolíbar & Mireia Julià & Joan Benach, 2021. "Comparing Precarious Employment Across Countries: Measurement Invariance of the Employment Precariousness Scale for Europe (EPRES-E)," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 154(3), pages 893-915, April.
    8. World Bank Group & Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, 2017. "Western Balkans Labor Market Trends 2017," World Bank Publications - Reports 26395, The World Bank Group.
    9. Richard Grieveson & Michael Landesmann & Isilda Mara & Roman Stöllinger, 2018. "Monthly Report No. 2/2018," wiiw Monthly Reports 2018-02, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.

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