» 2008 EBRD Transition Report: Growth in Transition
The EBRD's latest forecast for the countries where the EBRD
invests predicts that growth will fall sharply in the face of
global economic slowdown and the current financial crisis. The
newly launched Transition Report sees the region's growth
cut to 6.3 per cent in 2008 -- from 7.5 per cent in 2007 -- and
a further steep drop to 3.0 per cent in 2009. On December 5, 11.30-13.15, in KAW, Erik Berglöf,
Cheif Economist at EBRD visits SITE to present the report entitled
Growth in Transition
Download invitation.
Alf Vanags, Director of the
Baltic International Centre for Economic Policy Analysis
(BICEPS) in Riga discussed the economic situation in the Baltics
and the way forward. In summary, the situation is complicated
and each way forward will be associated with both economic and
political costs. The seminar was introduced by Torbjörn Becker,
Director of SITE, who provided a broad overview of the economic
situation in the region with special focus on current account
deficits.
Presentations by
Alf Vanags and
Torbjörn Becker.
Additional
material on
current account turnarounds by Torbjörn Becker
Georgian economy after the war
External assistance from the EU, the US,
and IFIs will help protect the country’s economy. It should come not only in the form of loans but also as grants and more open
access to new export markets.
Comment by Torbjörn Becker
Corruption and
Reforms
The causes and consequences of corruption is a major
topic in development. Results by Anders Olofsgård and Zaki
Zahran suggest that democratizations and economic
liberalizations may be more beneficial than
previous studies have suggested.