Public investment and growth in New EU member states: an overview

This paper presents major economic developments and recent trends in macroeconomic policy design of the New Member States of the European Union (EU). Overall macroeconomic situation, fiscal reforms, and public finance developments are discussed for each member state with accent on the developments in growing public investments. Sectors that benefited most are transport systems, general government services, housing, and education. Earlier favorable developments in the new EU members have been hampered by the recent crisis as external demand for exports fell and capital inflows into region were reduced, coupled with a lower domestic demand. The crisis has affected all new EU members with varying impact due to different magnitudes of earlier macroeconomic imbalances as well as differences in degree of economic integration with the rest of the EU. Future convergence and economic development of the new EU members will mainly depend on maintaining financial stability to regain the credibility of the foreign investors, rational fiscal policies with the support of the growth enhancing public investments and social network, and economic situation in the region?s major economic partners.