Suchergebnisse

Osnovni cilj Europske Unije je promicati mir, stabilnost i gospodarski razvoj u državama zapadnog Balkana, a posljedično i integriranje ovih zemalja u EU. Danas Crna Gora, Srbija, Sjeverna Makedonija i Albanija imaju status zemlje kandidata za ulazak u EU, a Bosna i Hercegovina i Kosovo status zemlje potencijalnog kandidata. Najizgledniji ulazak u Europsku Uniju u bliskoj budućnosti imaju Srbija i Crna Gora koje su napravile već veliki iskorak na svom pristupnom putu, dok druge zemlje također teže bržoj integraciji. Među mnoštvom problema s kojima su suočene, prije svega lošim susjedskim odnosima, uzrok sporog integracijskog procesa leži i u tome što domaće političke elite teško pronalaze kompromis između onoga što Europska Unija zahtjeva od svake države kandidatkinje i onogo što očekuje domaća javnost. Ipak, politika širenja EU-a nalazi se u osnovi nastanka i razvoja EU-a, pa u bliskoj budućnosti možemo vjerovati da će zemlje zapadnog Balkana vremenom integrirati u Europsku Uniju. ; The main goal of the European Union is to promote peace, stability and economic development in the countries of Western Balkans , and consecutively, integration of the aforementioned countries into the EU. Today, Montenegro, Serbia, Northern Macedonia and Albania have the status for future membership of the EU while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo have the status of potential candidates. Serbia and Montenegro have already made a major leap forwards on their access path, have the best prospects for entering the EU in the near future, with the other countries also striving towards a faster integration. Amongst a myriad of problems they're facing, first and foremost being bad relations with neighbouring countries, the cause for a slow integration process lies also in the fact that domestic political elites find it hard to compromise between what the EU demands of each candidate country and what domestic public expects. However, the EU expansion policy is in the heart of its origin and development. Therefore, it is likely that the Western Balkans countries will eventually enter the EU in the near future.

Osnovni cilj Europske Unije je promicati mir, stabilnost i gospodarski razvoj u državama zapadnog Balkana, a posljedično i integriranje ovih zemalja u EU. Danas Crna Gora, Srbija, Sjeverna Makedonija i Albanija imaju status zemlje kandidata za ulazak u EU, a Bosna i Hercegovina i Kosovo status zemlje potencijalnog kandidata. Najizgledniji ulazak u Europsku Uniju u bliskoj budućnosti imaju Srbija i Crna Gora koje su napravile već veliki iskorak na svom pristupnom putu, dok druge zemlje također teže bržoj integraciji. Među mnoštvom problema s kojima su suočene, prije svega lošim susjedskim odnosima, uzrok sporog integracijskog procesa leži i u tome što domaće političke elite teško pronalaze kompromis između onoga što Europska Unija zahtjeva od svake države kandidatkinje i onogo što očekuje domaća javnost. Ipak, politika širenja EU-a nalazi se u osnovi nastanka i razvoja EU-a, pa u bliskoj budućnosti možemo vjerovati da će zemlje zapadnog Balkana vremenom integrirati u Europsku Uniju. ; The main goal of the European Union is to promote peace, stability and economic development in the countries of Western Balkans , and consecutively, integration of the aforementioned countries into the EU. Today, Montenegro, Serbia, Northern Macedonia and Albania have the status for future membership of the EU while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo have the status of potential candidates. Serbia and Montenegro have already made a major leap forwards on their access path, have the best prospects for entering the EU in the near future, with the other countries also striving towards a faster integration. Amongst a myriad of problems they're facing, first and foremost being bad relations with neighbouring countries, the cause for a slow integration process lies also in the fact that domestic political elites find it hard to compromise between what the EU demands of each candidate country and what domestic public expects. However, the EU expansion policy is in the heart of its origin and development. Therefore, it is likely that the ...

Svjetska ekonomska kriza zahvatila je zemlje Zapadnog Balkana. Recesija koju je karakteriziralo smanjenje privredne aktivnosti, pad potrošnje i povećanje zaposlenosti bila je praćena smanjenjem javnih prihoda. Posljedica takvog stanja je budžetska neravnoteža koja se manifestirala u vidu strukturnog budžetskog deficita i rasta javnog duga. Fiskalna konsolidacija u svim zemljama bila je neophodna. U procesu fiskalne konsolidacije dolazi do promjene pojedinih elemenata fiskalne politike koji se razlikuju od zemlje do zemlje. U tom procesu , struktura javnih prihoda i javnih rashoda se mijenja. Postavlja se pitanje koliko je fiskalna konsolidacija bila uspješna i u kojoj mjeri. Dinamička panel analiza pomoću PMG procjenitelja u šest zemalja Zapadnog Balkana, za period od 2004-2016. godine pokazala je da fiskalna konsolidacija ima pozitivan utjecaj na ekonomski rast. Dakle, zemlje Zapadnog Balkana moraju voditi odgovorne financije kako bi potakle ekonomski rast. ; The global economic crisis has not spared the countries of the Western Balkans. The ensuing recession, characterized by a decline in economic activity, a decline in consumption and an increase in unemployment, went hand in hand with drops in public revenues. This in turn resulted in budget imbalances that manifested in structural budget deficits and higher public debt. Fiscal consolidation was deemed necessary across the board. In this process, certain fiscal policy elements varied among countries. The structure of public revenues and public expenditures changed. The question is whether the fiscal consolidation was successful and to what extent. Dynamic panel analysis using PMG estimator in six Western Balkan Countries for the period 2004-2016 has shown that fiscal consolidation has positive impact on economic growth in this region. So, Western Balkan Countries have to conduct responsible public finances in order to encourage economic growth.

Pri usporedbi demografskih procesa i promjena u zapadnoeuropskim zemljama i u Hrvatskoj često se u nas površno tvrdi da se radi o "identičnim procesima." Međutim, demografsko-statistička analitička usporedba pojedinih agregatnih i parcijalnih demografskih procesa u navedenim zemljama i u Hrvatskoj pokazuje da o identičnim procesima možemo govoriti samo kada je u pitanju dugoročni smjer promjene tih procesa, kao što je primjerice proces prirodne promjene stanovništva koji obilježava smanjivanje stopa nataliteta/ fertiliteta i proces starenja stanovništva koji obilježava porast staračkog stanovništva u ukupnom stanovništvu. Kod usporedbe mnogih drugih agregatnih i parcijalnih demografskih procesa u zapadnoeuropskim zemljama i u Hrvatskoj, napose kada je u pitanju srednjoročna i kratkoročna promjena, analiza pokazuje da se ne radi o identičnim procesima ni prema smjeru promjene, ni prema veličini, ni prema intenzitetu, ni prema strukturi promjene određenog demografskog procesa. U ovom ćemo radu nastojati te konstatacije potkrijepiti relevantnim podacima i pokazateljima za Hrvatsku i izabrane zapadnoeuropske zemlje. ; In this paper, main demographic processes and demographic balance in Croatia and in 18 Western European countries, mostly EU members, have been compared. The conclusion was that demographic processes in Croatia differed from the ones in the said Western European countries during previous two and a half decades. Among the analysed countries, Croatia was the only one with a permanent yearly decrease in the total population number during previous two and a half decades, while the analysed Western European countries have synchronously recorded a constant increase in the total population number. The analysis of the structure of the demographic balance of Croatia and the said countries shows – according to its basic components – a significantly different structure. In Croatia, above all, both summary components of the demographic balance are negative, so that the decrease in the total population number has been synchronously conditioned by natural population decrease and negative migration balance. However, this structure is different in the analysed Western European countries. It is evident that the increase in the total population number in these countries has been synchronously conditioned by positive migration balance and positive natural change, i.e. natural population increase. These aggregate and structural characteristics of the final result of demographic balance and its structures in Croatia and in the said countries have had an entirely different influence on future demographic movements and changes of the structures in Croatia and in the said countries: in Croatia, projections indicate that unfavourable demographic changes will become intensified in the future; while in Western European countries, they foresee a further increase in the total population number, in particular population capable for work, which is related to future positive structural demographic changes.

The role of the European Union (EU) trade liberalisation with the Western Balkans — namely Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, and Macedonia — is overestimated, as major benefits could be expected mainly from institutional reforms rather than trade creation and economic perspective due to low economic development and a lack of comparative advantages in these countries.1 The core issue to be addressed in this article is whether these firms can exploit the opportunities arising from the EU integration process. The aim of this article is to confirm the hypothesis that the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and trade agreements in the Western Balkans are not sufficient pre-conditions for successful performance and increase of exports by local firms; the main focus should be on the internal performance of firms. The paper analyses and compares the data collected by surveys conducted with local firms in Kosovo in order to measure the impact of the SAA. Finally, the article suggests that in the short and medium run the SAA could support and improve the quality of products, technical standards, and firm competitiveness as a pre-condition for better access to the EU market in the long run. ; The role of the European Union (EU) trade liberalisation with the Western Balkans — namely Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, and Macedonia — is overestimated, as major benefits could be expected mainly from institutional reforms rather than trade creation and economic perspective due to low economic development and a lack of comparative advantages in these countries.1 The core issue to be addressed in this article is whether these firms can exploit the opportunities arising from the EU integration process. The aim of this article is to confirm the hypothesis that the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and trade agreements in the Western Balkans are not sufficient pre-conditions for successful performance and increase of exports by local firms; the main focus should be on the internal performance of firms. The paper analyses and compares the data collected by surveys conducted with local firms in Kosovo in order to measure the impact of the SAA. Finally, the article suggests that in the short and medium run the SAA could support and improve the quality of products, technical standards, and firm competitiveness as a pre-condition for better access to the EU market in the long run.

Ovo istraživanje ima za cilj utvrditi empirijsku procjenu odnosa između čimbenika održivosti fiskalne politike, poput fiskalnog deficita i gospodarskog rasta u zemljama zapadnog Balkana i zemljama Istočne Europske unije koristeći panel baze podataka za godišnji vremenski raspon od 2000. do 2021. godine. Empirijski model istražuje utjecaj fiskalnog deficita, uz ostale kontrolne varijable poput inflacije, školovanja, ukupnih ulaganja, otvorenosti trgovine i proizvodnog jaza na gospodarski rast u odabranoj skupini zemalja. Za potrebe istraživanja koristili smo statičku i dinamičku panel procjenu tehnike poput fiksnih učinaka s Driscol i Kraay standardnim greškama i sustav GMM. Nalazi potvrđuju da je fiskalni deficit značajno utjecao na razinu rasta u obje skupine zemalja. Osim toga, kada se fiskalne varijable dovedu u interakciju s COVID-19 dummy varijablama, fiskalni deficit rezultira značajnim i pozitivnim učinkom na gospodarski rast. Međutim, kada je fiskalni deficit u interakciji s razdobljem dužničke krize u Euro-zoni, on postaje čimbenik koji pogoršava rast. Ostale kontrolne varijable poput inflacije, otvorenosti trgovine, ukupnih ulaganja i proizvodnog jaza smatraju se važnim čimbenicima u objašnjavanju uspješnost rasta zemalja srednje i istočne Europe i zapadnog Balkana. ; This research aims to provide an empirical assessment of the relationship between fiscal policy sustainability factors, like fiscal deficit and economic growth in the Western Balkan countries and East European Union Countries, using panel-level data for the yearly time span from 2000-2021. The empirical model provides the impact of fiscal deficit, alongside other control variables like inflation, schooling, total investments, trade openness, and output gap on economic growth in the selected group of countries. For the purpose of research, we employed Static and dynamic panel estimation techniques like Fixed Effects with Driscol and Kraay standard errors and system GMM. The findings confirm that fiscal deficit has significantly affected ...

Iako su zemlje Europske unije (EU) među najvažnijim turističkim destinacijama na svijetu, njihov je razvoj funkcije turizma različit. Stoga nam se čini interesantnim usporediti razinu razvoja funkcije turizma u zemljama EU-a. U ovom se članku pokušava odrediti vrijednost sintetičke mjere razina razvoja funkcije turizma zemalja EU-a, uzimajući u obzir osam najčešće korištenih indikatora. U istraživanju se koristila Mjera opće udaljenosti (MOU) prema M. Walesiaku gdje je normalizacija varijabli provedena za razdoblje od 2007. do 2016. godine korištenjem formule temeljene na medijanu. Empirijsko istraživanje provedeno je za prosječne podatke i vremenske nizove, što je omogućilo usporedbu promjena u vremenskoj dimenziji analiziranih pojava. Na osnovu rezultata autori su rangirali zemlje EU-a prema stupnjevima razvoja funkcije turizma i klasifi cirali ih u tri skupine. Prema razini razvoja 2016. godine vodila je Malta. Srednje visok stupanj razvoja funkcije turizma zabilježen je u skupini zapadno-europskih zemalja dok su na srednje niskom stupnju razvoja bile srednjoeuropske i skandinavske zemlje te neke u Zapadnoj Europi. Dobiveni bi rezultati mogli poslužiti kao osnova za ispravnije upravljanje turizmom u zemljama EU-a i kompetentnije odlučivanje o alokaciji europskih sredstava. ; European Union countries are the most signifi cant tourist destinations around the world. However, the level of development of tourist function is not the same in all European Union countries. It seems interesting to compare the level of tourist function development of European Union countries. The article attempts to determine the value of the synthetic measure of levels of development of the tourist function of European Union countries, taking into consideration the eight most frequently utilised indicators. The study applies M. Walesiak's General Distance Measure (GDM), where the normalisation of variables was undertaken during 2007-2016 with the application of a median-based formula. The empirical research was conducted, using the dynamic approach (for cross-sectional and tidal data) thus, enabling the comparison of changes observed in the analysed phenomenon tidally. The research findings enabled the authors to rank EU countries in terms of their tourist function development levels and to classify them into three groups. In 2016, the leader regarding the level of development of tourist function was Malta. The majority of Western European countries have medium-high levels of development of in tourist function, whereas the group of countries with medium-low levels included countries from East-Central Europe, Scandinavian countries and several Western Europe countries. The obtained results can lay the foundation for the proper management of tourism in EU countries and for proper decision-making regarding the allocation of EU funds.

Budućnost Zapadnog Balkana u svjetlu evropske integracije umnogome počiva na nizu različitih faktora koji nijesu dominantno i jedino vezani za same države ovog regiona. Iako sam proces integracije u EU presudno zavisi od spremnosti i sposobnosti država kandidata i potencijalnih kandidata da sprovedu sve potrebne reforme, transponuju pravnu tekovinu i ostvare tzv. evropski standard u zakonodavstvu i u praksi, on se ne odvija u vakuumu. Prije svega treba imati na umu da će razvoj situacije unutar Evropske unije imati značajnog uticaja na brzinu, dubinu i kvalitet ulaska preostalih balkanskih zemalja u Uniju. Evropska unija odnosno njezine države članice su te koje određuju i postavljaju pravila, te i snose najveću odgovornost za politiku proširenja. Pored toga ne smiju se zanemariti ni uticaji trećih strana koji su sve primjetniji i akutniji u regionu. Usporavanje reformi, evropsko upravljanje krizama, pojačana ili slabija uloga trećih aktera, sve to će bitno odrediti kakav proces evrointegracije predstoji u narednim godinama te, u skladu s time, i način na koji će on uticati na stabilnost i budućnost samih zemalja proširenja. U tom smislu, Zapadni Balkan istovremeno živi u promjenljivim stvarnostima koje donose različite ishode i mogućnosti. Ovaj članak, pored pregleda stanja na Zapadnom Balkanu, stoga daje i moguće scenarije za budući period. ; This article deals with the future of the Western Balkans in the light of a number of different factors that are not solely and purely connected to the countries of the region. Although the very process of integration into the EU is predominantly dependant on the readiness and the ability of the candidate and potential candidate countries to implement all the needed reforms, transpose the acquis and achieve the so-called European standard in legislation and in practice, the process is not being conducted in a vacuum. First of all, we should bear in mind that the development of the situation within the EU shall have crucial impact on the speed, depth and quality of the entrance of the remaining Balkan countries into the Union. Apart from that, we cannot ignore the influences of the third actors, which have become more visible and acute in the region. The EU and its Member States are the ones that define and set up the rules, therefore they bear most of the responsibility for the Enlargement Policy. Laggardness in reforms, EU crisis management, a stronger or weaker role of the third actors – all this shall determine what kind of process of European integration we shall have in the next years, and in line with it, the manner in which the process shall influence the stability and future of the enlargement countries. In this context, the Western Balkans simultaneously lives in variable realities that bring different outcomes and possibilities. This article, apart from the presentation of the situation in the Western Balkans, offers possible scenarios for the future.

Cijepljenje spašava od obolijevanja, nesposobnosti za život i rad te spašava živote od brojnih zaraznih bolesti. Europski ured Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije (SZO) radi na ujednačavanju i osnaživanju svih potrebnih preduvjeta kako bi se povećao obuhvat i osiguralo cijepljenje što većeg broja stanovnika u zemljama europske regije SZO, te kako bi se postigla što veća kvaliteta i ujednačenost u planiranju, organizaciji, obuhvatu i provođenju cijepljenja. Od ukupno 26 do sada dostupnih i široko korištenih cjepiva u svijetu, njih 14 se sustavno primjenjuje i pojavljuje u gotovo svim kalendarima cijepljenja zemalja europske regije SZO. Europska regija SZO obuhvaća 53 europske zemlje koje se dijele na 25 zapadnoeuropskih, 16 centralnih i jugoistočnih zemalja te 12 nezavisnih država nastalih raspadom bivšeg Sovjetskog Saveza. Posebnu pozornost treba usmjeriti na ujednačenost mehanizama financiranja, legislative, kvalifikacijsku strukturu osoblja, praćenje zdravstvenih posljedica, stavova javnosti o cijepljenju te ukupne predanosti svih segmenata društva za što uspješniju i ujednačeniju implementaciju programa cijepljenja u zemljama europske regije SZO. ; Vaccination prevents illness, inability to live and work, and saves lives from many infectious diseases. The European Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) is working to harmonize and strengthen all necessary preconditions in order to increase coverage and ensure vaccination of as many people as possible in the countries of the WHO European Region and to achieve greater quality and uniformity in planning, organization, coverage and conducting vaccinations. Out of a total of 26 vaccines available and widely used in the world so far, 14 of them are systematically applied and appear in almost all immunization schedules in the countries of the WHO European Region. The WHO European Region comprises 53 European countries, which are divided into 25 Western European, 16 Central and Southeastern countries, and 12 independent states that emerged from the disintegration ...

Cijepljenje spašava od obolijevanja, nesposobnosti za život i rad te spašava živote od brojnih zaraznih bolesti. Europski ured Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije (SZO) radi na ujednačavanju i osnaživanju svih potrebnih preduvjeta kako bi se povećao obuhvat i osiguralo cijepljenje što većeg broja stanovnika u zemljama europske regije SZO, te kako bi se postigla što veća kvaliteta i ujednačenost u planiranju, organizaciji, obuhvatu i provođenju cijepljenja. Od ukupno 26 do sada dostupnih i široko korištenih cjepiva u svijetu, njih 14 se sustavno primjenjuje i pojavljuje u gotovo svim kalendarima cijepljenja zemalja europske regije SZO. Europska regija SZO obuhvaća 53 europske zemlje koje se dijele na 25 zapadnoeuropskih, 16 centralnih i jugoistočnih zemalja te 12 nezavisnih država nastalih raspadom bivšeg Sovjetskog Saveza. Posebnu pozornost treba usmjeriti na ujednačenost mehanizama financiranja, legislative, kvalifikacijsku strukturu osoblja, praćenje zdravstvenih posljedica, stavova javnosti o cijepljenju te ukupne predanosti svih segmenata društva za što uspješniju i ujednačeniju implementaciju programa cijepljenja u zemljama europske regije SZO. ; Vaccination prevents illness, inability to live and work, and saves lives from many infectious diseases. The European Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) is working to harmonize and strengthen all necessary preconditions in order to increase coverage and ensure vaccination of as many people as possible in the countries of the WHO European Region and to achieve greater quality and uniformity in planning, organization, coverage and conducting vaccinations. Out of a total of 26 vaccines available and widely used in the world so far, 14 of them are systematically applied and appear in almost all immunization schedules in the countries of the WHO European Region. The WHO European Region comprises 53 European countries, which are divided into 25 Western European, 16 Central and Southeastern countries, and 12 independent states that emerged from the disintegration ...

U ovom radu autor analizira koliko su pitanja vezana za status etničkih manjina i dalje značajna na Zapadnom Balkanu. Autor smatra da su ona umnogome i dalje nedovoljno adekvatno riješena i da zahtijevaju da se pored valjane implementacije međunarodnih i europskih standarda promijeni i praksa, što podrazumijeva stvarno odsustvo diskriminacije. U tom smislu u radu se analizira i koliko ova pitanja utječu na bilateralne odnose između država regije Zapadnog Balkana, kao i njima susjednih, koje su već članice Europske unije (Hrvatske, Mađarske, Grčke, Rumunjske i Bugarske). Autor zaključuje da će se zbog toga u procesu pristupanja pojedinih zemalja Zapadnog Balkana europskim integracijama upravo pitanja manjina i reguliranja njihovog statusa dodatno aktualizirati, kada je riječ o njihovom članstvu u Europskoj uniji. Međutim, on ujedno naglašava da rješavanje manjinskih pitanja na Zapadnom Balkanu neće biti lako, odnosno da će taj proces potrajati dulje vremensko razdoblje. ; The author analyzes the significance of issues related to the status of ethnic minorities in the Western Balkans. According to the author, in many ways these are still inadequately resolved and require, in addition to the proper implementation of international and European standards in this respect, the change in practice, which actually involves non-discrimination. In this sense, the paper analyzes how these issues affect the bilateral relations between the countries of the Western Balkans, as well as their neighbors, that are already members of the European Union (Croatia, Hungary, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria). Therefore, the author concludes that in the future course of European integration of the Western Balkans countries, minority issues and regulation of their status will appear topical and often decisive when it comes to EU membership. However, he argues that the solution for these issues will not be easily reachable and that the process will take a longer period.

Rad se bavi analizom zadovoljstva poslom u sektoru trgovine, kao važne komponente sveobuhvatne socijalne i društveno odgovorne politike zapošljavanja u regiji Zapadnog Balkana. Cilj istraživanja je da se na temelju empirijski prikupljenih podataka i provedenog testiranja definiraju indikatori zadovoljstva poslom zaposlenih u sektoru maloprodaje Srbije, Hrvatske, Bosne i Hercegovine, Slovenije i Crne Gore s posebnim osvrtom na odnos između zemalja članica EU i zemalja koje nisu članice EU. U radu se testira hipoteza o statistički značajnoj povezanosti između indikatora zadovoljstva poslom, kao što su: plaće i naknade, uvjeta rada, sustava nagrađivanja, razvoja karijere, sigurnosti posla, kolegijalnosti i komunikacije kao pokazatelja zadovoljstva poslom i analiziranih država Zapadnog Balkana. Istraživanje je obuhvatilo 356 maloprodavača iz najvećih supermarketa Zapadnog Balkana. Dobiveni rezultati su pokazali da postoji statistički značajna povezanost između analiziranih indikatora i država. Na temelju danih rezultata kreiran je model zadovoljstva poslom zaposlenih u sektoru maloprodaje Zapadnog Balkana. Praktičan značaj istraživanja je u tome da može pomoći menadžerima da upoznaju date indikatore kako bi utjecali na motiviranost, zadovoljstvo i produktivnost svojih zaposlenika i tako trgovinske tvrtke regije zapadnog Balkana što bolje pripremili za borbu s međunarodnom konkurencijom i ulazak na tržište Europske Unije. Rezultati pokazuju i važnost budućih istraživanja o mogućim odstupanjima glede utjecaja promatranih pokazatelja u utvrđenom modelu zadovoljstva poslom. ; The paper analyses the job satisfaction in the trade sector as an important component of a comprehensive social and socially responsible employment policy in the Western Balkans. The aim of the research is to use the empirically collected data and conducted tests for defining indicators of job satisfaction of employees in the retail sector in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Montenegro with a special emphasis on the relation between EU members and non-EU countries. This paper tests the hypothesis on a statistically significant correlation between indicators of job satisfaction, such as salaries and benefits, working conditions, reward system, career development, job security, collegiality and communication, and the analysed countries of the Western Balkans. The study included 356 retailers from the largest supermarkets in the Western Balkans. The results showed statistically significant correlation between the analysed indicators and countries, and served as the basis for defining the model of employees' job satisfaction in the Western Balkans retail sector. Practical significance of the research is that it can help managers influence motivation, satisfaction and productivity of their employees, and thus better prepare trading companies in the Western Balkan countries for international competition arena and entry to the European Union market. The results indicate the importance of further research on possible discrepancies in the impact of the observed indicators in the established model of job satisfaction.

Cilj ovog rada je ispitati odrednice javnog duga u zemljama zapadnog Balkana, s naglaskom na učinke gospodarskog rasta i socijalnih izdataka. Studija pokriva razdoblje od 2006. do 2017. godine i primjenjujemo dinamičku panel analizu, korištenjem diferenciranog i sistemskog GMM procjenitelja. Rezultati sugeriraju da inkrementalna promjena rasta značajno smanjuje dug, dok socijalni izdaci podižu omjer duga prema BDP-u. Također, postoji negativan odnos između inflacije i duga, dok otplaćivanje kamata na prethodno zaduživanje dodatno povećava javni dug. Konačno, nezaposlenost u ovom modelu nije statistički značajna. Glavna implikacija studije je da kreatori politika u ovim zemljama trebaju favorizirati politike usmjerene na rast i socijalne reforme orijentirane na djelotvornost, kako bi javni dug bio održiv na duže staze. ; The aim of this paper is to examine the determinants of public debt in the Western Balkan countries, with an emphasis on the effects of economic growth and social expenditures. The study covers the period 2006-2017, and we implement the dynamic panel GMM estimation, using both first-difference and system GMM. The results suggest that incremental growth change significantly reduces debt, while social expenditures push the debt-to-GDP ratio up. Also, there is a negative relation between inflation and debt, while interest payments on previous borrowing increase public debt additionally. Finally, unemployment is not statistically significant in this setting. The main policy implication is that policy makers in these countries should favor a growth-oriented policy toolbox and efficiency-oriented social reforms, in order to keep the public debt sustainable in the long run.

Hrvatski referendum o ulasku u EU pokazao je da je najveći dio hrvatskog biračkog tijela – euroravnodušan. Euroravnodušnost bila je preferirana opcija i za političku elitu, koja je – za razliku od biračkog tijela – unisono podržala članstvo Hrvatske u EU-u. Članak analizira uzroke euroravnodušnosti i euroskepticizma oslanjajući se na dosad provedena istraživanja. U drugom dijelu članak analizira moguće posljedice hrvatskog članstva u EU-u na smanjeni Zapadni Balkan. Te posljedice mogu biti ambivalentne, a konačan ishod ovisit će o faktorima kao što su: 1) stvarna privrženost EU-a politici daljnjeg proširenja, 2) daljnji razvoj krize u EU-u, 3) unutrašnja dinamika u svim zemljama kandidatima. Proširenje EU-a ovisit će i o sposobnosti političkih elita da ignoriraju javno mnijenje. Ujedinjenje Europe ostaje ideokratski projekt elita koji se ne temelji na ideji predstavljanja stvarnosti, nego transformacije te stvarnosti. No ignoriranje javnog mnijenja povećat će osjećaj demokratske nelegitimiranosti EU-a. Hrvatski referendum o članstvu u EU-u ponudio je neke instrumente kojima se politička elita poslužila kako bi marginalizirala rašireni euroskepticizam i suverenizam u široj javnosti. O sposobnosti ignoriranja i marginaliziranja suverenističke alternative ovisi i daljnje ponašanje Hrvatske – odnosno svake zemlje članice EU-a – unutar same Unije. ; The Croatian referendum on EU membership demonstrated that the Croatian electorate is highly indifferent towards the EU. The political elite too preferred EU-indifferentism to Euroscepticism. Unlike the largest segment of the electorate, the Croatian political elite is almost unanimously supportive of the EU membership for the country. The article analyses the main sources of Croatian EU-indifferentism and Euroscepticism. In addition, it discusses consequences of the outcome of the Croatian referendum to now reduced region of Western Balkans. Consequences of Croatian membership in the EU might be ambivalent, and will depend on factors such as: 1) EU's commitment to the policy of further enlargement (or the lack of this commitment), 2) development of political, economic and social crises in the EU, and 3) internal dynamics in candidate countries. The EU enlargement will also depend on the ability of political elites to ignore Euroscepticism in their own countries. Unification of Europe remains an ideocratic project led by political elites. It is not about representing reality as it is, but rather about changing it through thorough transformation of European societies. However, further ignoring of the electorate will result in an enhanced sense of democratic deficit and might further question the legitimacy of the EU. The Croatian EU referendum offered some instruments and lessons on how to marginalise Euroscepticism and nationalism in the general public. If it is to be a constructive member of the EU, Croatia will have to continue ignoring and marginalising nationalists and Eurosceptics. This is also the case with other EU member-states.

Europa je dio globaliziranog i povezanog svijeta gdje se očekuje povećanje međunarodne mobilnosti. Sadašnje zakonodavstvo EU , nakon stupanja na snagu Lisabonskog ugovora, suočava se s novim izazovima na području slobode, sigurnosti i pravde. Postoji značajna europeizacija migracijske politike. Regija Zapadnog Balkana (ZB) smatra se jednim od najzanimljivijih i izazovnijih područja u Europi po sadašnjim migracijskim tokovima. Posljednje proširenje EU pomaknulo je migraciju iz klasične radničke imigracije, do tzv. odljeva mozgova, jer sada mlađi i visokoobrazovani ljudi imaju tendenciju migrirati u druge zemlje da bi nastavili svoju profesionalnu karijeru. Istočno proširenje i migracija na Zapadnom Balkanu mogu ići u istom smjeru. Ovaj članak ima za cilj identificirati politiku legalne migracije u EU za državljane zemalja Zapadnog Balkana kada se odluče za ulazak i / ili rade na području EU , ističući tu odluku kao izazov ili kao priliku za građane ZB-a. ; Europe is part of a globalized and interconnected world where international mobility is expected to increase. The current European Union (EU ) legislation, after entry into force of Lisbon Treaty, is facing new challenges in the field of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. There is a significant Europeanization of migration policy. The Western Balkan (WB) region is considered as one of the most interesting and challenging regions in Europe regarding the current migration flows. The last EU enlargement shifted the migration from classical working class immigration, to the so-called brain drain immigration, since now younger and highly educated people tend to migrate more in other countries to pursue their professional career. The EU Eastern enlargement and WB migration may go in the same direction. The present article aims to identify the EU legal migration policy for the WB nationals when they decide to enter and/or work in the EU territory legally, pointing out that decision as a challenge or as an opportunity for WB citizens.