The capacity of the state to develop and implement policy at the complex nexus of energy infrastr... more The capacity of the state to develop and implement policy at the complex nexus of energy infrastructure, social inequality and housing is indicative of the political priorities of governing structures and, by extension, the nature of statecraft more generally. We compare and contrast the energy poverty amelioration policies of two former Yugoslav and two post-Soviet states located outside the European Union, but seeking to join its regulatory sphere – Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine and Georgia – against the background of deep and persistent patterns of domestic energy hardship. We are particularly interested in uncovering the time horizons, socio-technical systems and target constituencies of different policy measures, as well as energy sector–specific responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that most states in the region have done little to address some of the more substantive challenges around improving housing quality, energy efficiency and gender inequality. However, energy pov...
The major challenges of Western Balkan countries are mostly evident through their long and bumpy ... more The major challenges of Western Balkan countries are mostly evident through their long and bumpy road towards economic, social and human development. Recent indicators show that many economic and social aspects in these countries are under the threat of backsliding instead of the providing evidence of progress (World Bank, 2015). The political discourse of two and a half decades without proper dialogue between progressive stakeholders and decision-makers has resulted in a deficiency of clear development strategies. In the hesitant sense of where to go further other than fulfilling the EU requirements, these countries seem to be abandoning the need to develop for the well-being of people. The consequences are already visible, and urgent actions are needed. Consequently, this research tends to examine where the Western Balkan countries stand in development beyond the delayed and painstaking EU integration process. By following a qualitative research method based on questionnaires, the...
This article investigates the impact of macroeconomic variables on FDI inflow in Macedonia using ... more This article investigates the impact of macroeconomic variables on FDI inflow in Macedonia using quarterly data for 2000-2016. The structural breakpoint method is used to disclose the non-linear effects in a context of structural shocks. The results indicate a significant impact of our macroeconomic variables on FDI inflows and reveal temporal heterogeneity of the slopes reflecting a non-linear impact of real GDP, interest rate, real effective exchange rate and trade openness on FDI inflows. Keywords: FDI, Structural Breaks, Breakpoint analysis, Macedonia. JEL codes: C20, F43, O11
A review into the political trends and dynamics reveals that current energy developments are over... more A review into the political trends and dynamics reveals that current energy developments are overwhelmingly influencing the political discourse and security dialogue in many regions. Though energy demands are demonstrating growing tendencies, the confrontation of climate change urges governments to collectively respond and decarbonize the energy systems through promotion of renewable energy sources, innovative technologies, and sustainable solutions. However, the complexity of the established energy networks and the strong lobbies of coal and other conventional sources in regions like the Western Balkans, represents an impediment to a smooth transformation. In a crucial momentum, all conditions point towards elevating the just energy transformation at the core of the political and cooperation dialogue on a regional level. The main aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive analyses of the readiness of government policies to support of energy sources in the countries of Albania,...
The selection of export expansion as a long-term development strategy means that the economy of t... more The selection of export expansion as a long-term development strategy means that the economy of the state should not remain (just) a “small open economy”, rather that it should gradually develop into an internationally integrated economy. This is not the same at all. It means that there should be an increase in export and goods, but also of services with a larger component of domestic added value. The future model of economic development of North Macedonia should have a sectoral approach in terms of the attracting of FDI, and domestic companies should not be left out. They need to join both the regional and global value chains. The regional (joint) market is a vast potential for domestic companies where they demonstrate higher competitiveness compared to the European level. Herein lie the opportunities created by the disrupted global economic flows caused by the pandemic which will make this region all the more interesting for FDI from the EU and will enable better linking of the do...
The capacity of the state to develop and implement policy at the complex nexus of energy infrastr... more The capacity of the state to develop and implement policy at the complex nexus of energy infrastructure, social inequality and housing is indicative of the political priorities of governing structures and, by extension, the nature of statecraft more generally. We compare and contrast the energy poverty amelioration policies of two former Yugoslav and two post-Soviet states located outside the European Union, but seeking to join its regulatory sphere – Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine and Georgia – against the background of deep and persistent patterns of domestic energy hardship. We are particularly interested in uncovering the time horizons, socio-technical systems and target constituencies of different policy measures, as well as energy sector–specific responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that most states in the region have done little to address some of the more substantive challenges around improving housing quality, energy efficiency and gender inequality. However, energy pov...
The major challenges of Western Balkan countries are mostly evident through their long and bumpy ... more The major challenges of Western Balkan countries are mostly evident through their long and bumpy road towards economic, social and human development. Recent indicators show that many economic and social aspects in these countries are under the threat of backsliding instead of the providing evidence of progress (World Bank, 2015). The political discourse of two and a half decades without proper dialogue between progressive stakeholders and decision-makers has resulted in a deficiency of clear development strategies. In the hesitant sense of where to go further other than fulfilling the EU requirements, these countries seem to be abandoning the need to develop for the well-being of people. The consequences are already visible, and urgent actions are needed. Consequently, this research tends to examine where the Western Balkan countries stand in development beyond the delayed and painstaking EU integration process. By following a qualitative research method based on questionnaires, the...
This article investigates the impact of macroeconomic variables on FDI inflow in Macedonia using ... more This article investigates the impact of macroeconomic variables on FDI inflow in Macedonia using quarterly data for 2000-2016. The structural breakpoint method is used to disclose the non-linear effects in a context of structural shocks. The results indicate a significant impact of our macroeconomic variables on FDI inflows and reveal temporal heterogeneity of the slopes reflecting a non-linear impact of real GDP, interest rate, real effective exchange rate and trade openness on FDI inflows. Keywords: FDI, Structural Breaks, Breakpoint analysis, Macedonia. JEL codes: C20, F43, O11
A review into the political trends and dynamics reveals that current energy developments are over... more A review into the political trends and dynamics reveals that current energy developments are overwhelmingly influencing the political discourse and security dialogue in many regions. Though energy demands are demonstrating growing tendencies, the confrontation of climate change urges governments to collectively respond and decarbonize the energy systems through promotion of renewable energy sources, innovative technologies, and sustainable solutions. However, the complexity of the established energy networks and the strong lobbies of coal and other conventional sources in regions like the Western Balkans, represents an impediment to a smooth transformation. In a crucial momentum, all conditions point towards elevating the just energy transformation at the core of the political and cooperation dialogue on a regional level. The main aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive analyses of the readiness of government policies to support of energy sources in the countries of Albania,...
The selection of export expansion as a long-term development strategy means that the economy of t... more The selection of export expansion as a long-term development strategy means that the economy of the state should not remain (just) a “small open economy”, rather that it should gradually develop into an internationally integrated economy. This is not the same at all. It means that there should be an increase in export and goods, but also of services with a larger component of domestic added value. The future model of economic development of North Macedonia should have a sectoral approach in terms of the attracting of FDI, and domestic companies should not be left out. They need to join both the regional and global value chains. The regional (joint) market is a vast potential for domestic companies where they demonstrate higher competitiveness compared to the European level. Herein lie the opportunities created by the disrupted global economic flows caused by the pandemic which will make this region all the more interesting for FDI from the EU and will enable better linking of the do...
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Papers by Ivana Vuchkova