Two researchers from the Social Sciences Research Center – Amer Kurtović and Dženita Šiljak – presented research at the 2024 RSA Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Conference, held on September 11th at the University of Dubrovnik, Croatia.
The conference, titled "Central and Eastern Europe: Dynamically Changing Regions in an Ever-Changing World," brought together scholars to explore the internal and external dynamics shaping the CEE region. Discussions focused on regional differentiation, development pathways, and the impact of geopolitical factors, such as the influence of the EU, China, and Russia, on CEE countries.
Kurtović presented research titled Fiscal Impacts of Business Friendly Certification to Municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Business Friendly Certification (BFC) was introduced across Southeast Europe to enhance local governance and attract private sector investment by promoting efficient and transparent municipal administrations.
The research examined 12 years of investment data from 79 certified municipalities, 34 of which are located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and explored the fiscal value of the BFC by comparing investment levels in municipalities before and after certification. It also mapped investors, investments, and enacted reforms across the 34 municipalities, constructing a typology of investment preferences.
In addition to his research presentation, Amer Kurtović chaired two panels: EU Cohesion Policy and its Regional Impacts in CEE and SS07: Studying the European Union in the Western Balkans using Discourse. Both sessions sparked lively debates among participants and offered new insights into the ways regional and EU policies are shaping the development trajectories of the Western Balkans.
Šiljak presented her work alongside Kristian L. Nielsen from Corvinus University of Budapest. Their paper, Transition, Institutions, and Growth: Have Transition Countries Ceased Their ‘Advantage of Backwardness’?, analyzed the role of institutions in driving economic growth in eight EU candidate countries. The research found that inefficient institutions in these countries have hampered their convergence with the EU, despite initial advantages during their transition.
The 2024 RSA CEE Conference provided a valuable platform for the Social Sciences Research Center to showcase its work and engage with the broader academic community on the complex challenges facing the region.
The abstracts of the papers can be found here.