Authors: Vít Hloušek, Krisztina Arató and Boglárka Koller

In: Foreign policy narratives of Central and Eastern European political parties, European Politics and Society,

DOI: 10.1080/23745118.2026.2717313

Abstract

This article analyses foreign policy narratives articulated by political parties in Central Europe, focusing on Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia across two electoral cycles surrounding Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The study demonstrates the predominance of liberal–internationalist and sovereigntist–isolationist narratives. The analysis confirms that the economic left–right divide is a weak predictor of foreign policy orientations, whereas the GAL–TAN cleavage and the presence of populism – particularly radical-right populism – are more consequential. Overall, the research underscores the interdependence of domestic politics and foreign policy, while highlighting persistent diversity in Central European party narratives.

A Hloušek, V., Arató, K., Koller, B.: Foreign policy narratives of Central and Eastern European political parties bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Authors: Csaba Lakócai, Luigi Capoani,

In: Regional Statistics, Vol. 16. No. 1. 2026

DOI: 10.15196/RS160104  

Abstract

Building upon the traditional concept of the “Blue Banana” as Europe’s economic core area, this study examines the multifaceted impacts and underlying causes of régiónál competitiveness disparities across Europe. In particular, it delves into Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), along with the Mediterranean territories of the European Union (EU), analysing the ongoing economic and urban transformations within these areas while also assessing similar patterns in Western and Northern Europe. Leveraging the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics 2 (NUTS 2) regional breakdown and data sourced from the EU’s latest regional competitiveness index (RCI) report, this study conducts a comprehensive analysis of spatial concentrations within the EU. The findings suggest that although some regions of the Blue Banana maintain their relative dominance in regional competitiveness, significant recent developments in other European regions indicate that the concept may be losing relevance. In particular, the CEE regions – especially their capital regions – converged toward the standards set by the Blue Banana. The results of the spatial regression model on the RCI in 2022 substantiate the conclusion that the Blue Banana is no longer a significant territorial concentration. Moreover, the results of the spatial regression model on the changes in RCI scores between 2016 and 2022 indicate that the less affluent CEE and Mediterranean regions have greater development potential than the wealthier western and northern egions, further challenging the traditional notion of the Blue Banana.

A Caponi, L., Lakócai Cs.: Spatial dynamics of competitiveness: a comparative analysis of the Blue Banana and emerging EU regions bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Author: Tamás Csontos

In: Acta Oeconomica (published online ahead of print 2025).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/032.2025.00081

Abstract

This paper explores the changing landscape of external finance in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) following the global financial crisis of 2008. Through comparative statistical analysis, it traces shifts in the primary sources of external finance, including foreign direct investment (FDI), EU subsidies, remittances, and external debt. The findings reveal a significant decline in the importance of FDI and external debt, offset by an increasing dependence on EU subsidies and remittances. The paper categorises countries into three groups according to their dominant source of external finance, with only one cluster remaining primarily FDI-led. By unpacking these varied forms of financial dependence, the paper provides a more nuanced understanding of post-crisis growth models in the CEE region. It concludes that, while the composition of external finance has shifted, overall dependency has persisted.

A Csontos, T.: Varieties of dependent growth models: External finance in Central and Eastern European economies bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Author: Andrea Szalavetz

In: Post-Communist Economies, 11 Mar 2025

DOI: 10.1080/14631377.2025.2470007

Abstract

Analysing qualitative data obtained from experts and technology startups in Central and Eastern Europe, we evaluate Meyer and Peng’s proposition about the fading distinctiveness of the CEE region. Assessing founders’ entrepreneurial journeys, practices, and problems encountered, we find that rather than being CEE- specific, tech entrepreneurs’ contextual constraints and coping strategies resemble those of emerging-economy entrepreneurs. Learning and adaptation throughout CEE founders’ entrepreneurial journey involves convergence to the mainstream practices asso- ciated with Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. The only undisputably CEE-specific features that we identified are related to certain per- sonality traits and capability deficits of the founders. This suggests that the behavioural patterns that entrepreneurs developed in the institutional and cultural environment of the command economy have been transmitted to the subsequent generation: they con- tinue to influence today’s tech entrepreneurs’ ambitions and abil- ities. Scholars’ widely shared hypothesis that generational change in CEE would create discontinuity in entrepreneurial quality is rejected.

A Szalavetz, A.: Technology startups in Central and Eastern Europe: are they CEE-specific? bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

The impact of financial allocations to the Eastern member states of the European Union in the last two decades

Authors: Ádám Kerényi , Csaba Lakócai

In: HUN-REN CERS, Institute of World Economics, Working Paper Nr. 274 (2024) April 2024

Abstract

Following the collapse of the Soviet-style planned economies, the post-socialist region of Central and Eastern Europe has undergone a process of economic convergence after the initial shock of transition to a market economy. One stage in this process was accession to the European Union. Most of the countries in the region became members, making them eligible for further benefits and financial allocations. The extent to which these funds have been used effectively over the past decades varies from country to country, but overall, the convergence of these countries within the EU has continued. In this study, we examine the distribution of the net EU transfers to the post-socialist member states and their impact on macroeconomic and social indicators between 2004 and 2022. While these effects are clearly visible in terms of the formal economic and consumption indicators, they are less directly visible in terms of the informal wellbeing trends.

A Kerényi, Á., Lakócai Cs.: Trends, Transfers and Convergence – The impact of financial allocations to the Eastern member states of the European Union in the last two decades bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Authors: Csaba Lakócai, Luigi Capoani

In: Global Economic Observer, 2(11), 13-21.

Abstract

Our study examines the territorial structure of 11 Central and Eastern European (CEE) Member States of the EU in NUTS 2 regional breakdown, considering the regional competitiveness as of the situation over the last couple of years. We focus our research on the question whether the regional competitiveness scores of the CEE regions are spatially auto-correlated. Then, we further analyze the determinants of the existing spatial concentrations. Methodologically, we apply quantitative analyses, including descriptive statistics and data visualization, as well as standard and spatial regression modeling. Our results confirm that the spatial neighborhood effect has a significant explanatory power for the regional competitiveness in CEE. Besides that, developing the high technology and knowledge intensive sectors, together with fostering social integration and inclusion, are crucial for improving the competitiveness of the CEE regions.

Keywords: Central and Eastern Europe, Regional Competitiveness, Spatial Development

A Lakócai, Cs., Luigi Capoani, L.: Spatial Dynamics of Regional Competitiveness in Central and Eastern Europe bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.