The EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR) macro-region spans nine Southern European countries from Greece through the Western Balkans to the eastern seaboard of Italy. It combines EU member states and accession states, providing strong support to the EU enlargement process which has become a priority policy in the EU. In this talk, I will address the contribution of investment in the digital economy and skills to regional economic development and to the ability of the Western Balkans to catch up to their EU counterparts. The research draws on documentary sources and on a statistical analysis of the factors driving economic growth at regional level. The argument is supported by statistical visualisations and an econometric analysis of a panel dataset covering 39 NUTS2 subregions of EUSAIR over a ten-year period. The research shows the positive effects of vocational educational and training, the share of STEM graduates in the labour force, the mobilisation of the inactive population, and investment in ICT infrastructure in supporting economic growth in the region. Different growth drivers in EU member states versus accession states, and in capital city regions versus peripheral regions are brought out, with some provisional policy recommendations emerging from the study.
Professor Will Bartlett is Editor-in-Chief of Economic Annals at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade.
Professor Vassilis Monastiriotis is Director, Hellenic Observatory Centre; Eleftherios Venizelos Chair of Contemporary Greek Studies, Professor of Political Economy.
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The Hellenic Observatory (@HO_LSE) is internationally recognised as one of the premier research centres on contemporary Greece and Cyprus. It engages in a range of activities, including developing and supporting academic and policy-related research; organisation of conferences, seminars and workshops; academic exchange through visiting fellowships and internships; as well as teaching at the graduate level through LSE's European Institute.
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