Western Balkans Competitiveness Outlook 2024: Regional Profile
Inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the six Western Balkan (WB6) economies
depends on greater economic competitiveness. Although the gap is closing gradually,
the standards of living in WB6 are well below those of the OECD and EU. Accelerating
the rate of socio-economic convergence will require a holistic and growth oriented
approach to policy making.
This is the fourth study of the region (formerly under the title 'Competitiveness
in South East Europe') and it comprehensively assesses policy reforms in the WB6 economies
across 15 policy areas key to strengthening their competitiveness. It enables WB6
economies to compare economic performance against regional peers, as well as EU-OECD
good practices and standards, and to design future policies based on rich evidence
and actionable policy recommendations.
The regional profile presents assessment findings across five policy clusters crucial
to accelerating socio-economic convergence of the WB6 by fostering regional co-operation:
business environment, skills, infrastructure and connectivity, digital transformation
and greening. Economy-specific profiles complement the regional assessment, offering
each WB6 economy an in-depth analysis of their policies supporting competitiveness.
They also track the implementation of the previous 2021 study's recommendations and
provide additional ones tailored to the economies’ evolving challenges. These recommendations
aim to inform structural economic reforms and facilitate the region’s socio-economic
convergence towards the standards of the EU and OECD.
Published on June 26, 2024
In series:Competitiveness and Private Sector Developmentview more titles