The Return To Europe : The Reintegration of Eastern Europe Into the European Economy

The Return to Europe examines the ability of the Central and South-east European economies to withstand competitive pressures on entry to the EU. These economies are still experiencing major structural problems inherited from communism. A major gap still exists between the income levels and economic structures of the accession states and the existing members of the EU. Trade relations largely involve the exchange of labour-intensive goods produced in Eastern Europe for technology-intensive goods produced in the EU. The export structures of some Central European economies which have attracted foreign direct investment is improving. Romania and Bulgaria have become increasingly dependent on export of labour-intensive goods since the collapse of communism. Will this create a permanent division of labour in an enlarged EU in which some regions of Europe fail to attract investment and become dependent on the export of low-wage goods, with implications for European security? Front Matter....Pages i-xiv The Background to Eastward Enlargement....Pages 1-25 International Trade Theory and EU Enlargement....Pages 26-44 Statistical Tests and Problems of Measurement....Pages 45-63 East European Economic Relations under Communism....Pages 64-97 The Basic Features of Trade Relations between the EU and the Applicant States....Pages 98-123 Factor Intensity and Technological Levels in Trade in Manufactured Goods between the CEE-10 and the EU....Pages 124-145 Revealed Specialisation and the Competitiveness of the CEE Economies....Pages 146-174 Conclusions: Prospects for Integration....Pages 175-191 Back Matter....Pages 192-215 One of the major features of the social landscape of the new states of Eastern Europe and the former USSR is migration, whether voluntary or coerced. The decline of communism in both East and Central Europe and the fall of the Soviet empire have created new population and ethnic problems. The recent exodus has proved to be the largest migration wave reported in Europe in over 40 years. The problem of foreigners in Poland is a subject scarcely studied and insufficiently described. This groundbreaking work contains the latest data and results of research (quantitative as well as qualitative) on the movement of foreigners into Poland. The Return to Europe examines the ability of the central and south east European economies to withstand competitive pressures on entry to the EU. Trade with the EU largely involves the export of labour intensive goods in exchange for human capital intensive goods. The export structure of central European economies, which have attracted foreign direct investment, is improving. The Balkan economies remain dependent on exports of low-wage products. Will this create permanent divisions in Europe, with implications for European security? A major gap still exists between the income levels and economic structures of the accession states and the existing members of the EU. This book examines the ability of the central and south east European economies to withstand the competitive pressures on entry to the EU. These economies are still experiencing major structural problems inherited from communism. Focusing on the crucial relationship between education and civic culture, this text provides up-to-date coverage with translations of work by Finnish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, Czech and Russian specialists Alan Smith. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 205-210) And Index.