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The integration of post-socialist Central and Eastern Europe into the EU is one of the success stories of European development. The region has seen significant economic convergence, dramatic changes in socio-economic indicators and improvements in the natural environment. However, some challenges remain, such as political divergence, public governance issues and population demographics.
This book identifies and analyses the key post-1990 developments across the New Member States at the sub-national and national levels, with frequent country-level and regional comparisons. Careful attention is paid to drawing out commonalities in development trajectories while appreciating each country's unique context. Drawing on the academic literature and illuminating empirical material, the broad range of topics discussed in the book paints a detailed picture of both change and stability in Central and Eastern Europe.
It will be valuable reading for advanced students, researchers and policymakers in regional studies, European studies, human geography, political economy and transition economics.
List of contents
Introduction PART I: SYSTEMIC FOUNDATIONS OF TRANSORMATION Chapter 1 Economic Trajectories of the post-socialist Central and Eastern European countries Witold Orłowski Chapter 2 Political Systems and their Impact on the Quality of Democracy and Socio-Economic Development in CEE Countries Radosław Markowski Chapter 3 Local Government: Progress in Decentralisation Paweł Swianiewicz Chapter 4 Regionalism in Central and Eastern Europe Roman Szul PART II: REFORMS AND CHALLENGES Chapter 5 Demographic change and challenge Agnieszka Fihel and Marek Okólski Chapter 6 Labour markets and social changes Joanna Tyrowicz and Peter Szewczyk Chapter 7 Running faster or measuring better? How Central and Eastern European science is catching up with Western Europe Agnieszka Olechnicka and Adam Płoszaj Chapter 8 Technology upgrading and growth in Central and Eastern Europe Slavo Radosevic, Deniz E. Yoruk and Esin Yoruk PART III: REGIONS, SPACE, TERRITORY Chapter 9 Regional dynamics and structural changes in Central and Eastern European countries Grzegorz Gorzelak and Maciej Smętkowski Chapter 10 Land-use and ownership changes of agriculture Jerzy Bański Chapter 11 Transport infrastructure and accessibility Tomasz Komornicki Chapter 12 Environment in the context of sustainable development Andrzej Kassenberg and Zbigniew Karaczun PART IV: THE FUTURE CHALLENGES OF THE CEE COUNTRIES WITHIN INTEGRATED EUROPE Chapter 13 Cohesion policy and EU membership John Bachtler and Martin Ferry Chapter 14 Structural changes and future perspectives of the CEE countries Roberta Capello Conclusions Index
About the author
Grzegorz Gorzelak is Professor of Economics at the Centre for European Regional and Local Studies (EUROREG), University of Warsaw, Poland.
Summary
This book identifies and analyses the key post-1990 developments across the New Member States at the sub-national and national levels, with frequent country-level and regional comparisons.
