Navigating Sovereignty, Dependence, and Economic Development

István Benczes: ‘Defining Economic Governance Through Critical Junctures and Learning by Doing ‘

Krisztina Arató, Boglárka Koller and Anita Pelle: ‘Why Does Hungary Not Use the Euro? The Reasons and Context Behind Staying Out’

Andrea Éltető: ‘Hungarian Industrial Policy in an EU Framework’

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A The Path of Hungary’s EU Membership. Navigating Sovereignty, Dependence, and Economic Development bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Author: István Benczes

In: HUN-REN CERS, Institute of World Economics, Working Paper Nr. 275 (2024) June 2024

Abstract

The eight new member states that joined in 2004, followed by three more in Central and Eastern Europe, have achieved a significant degree of convergence in terms of economic development. In the present study, however, we examine whether the size of public finances in the 11 CEE new member states has also approached the EU average, and to what extent the structure of public expenditures and revenues in these countries show similar or different patterns to that of the EU27. The distinction between the size and composition of public finances is rather important because, while empirical research on the sample of developed countries has found a non-existent or negative relationship between government size and economic growth, individual revenue and expenditure items can have very different impacts on economic growth and hence on the convergence process itself. The analysis of public finances can also help identify those commonly shared preferences in spending and revenues where old and new member states can agree on to strengthen the common budget of the EU in the future.

A Benczes, I.: Convergence in public finances? The case of the new member states of the EU bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Edited: István Benczes

Benczes, I. (ed.): Economic Policies of Populist Leaders: A Central and Eastern European Perspective. Routledge. 2023.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003378884

Abstract

Providing a comparative analysis of Central and Eastern European economies, this book explores the economic impacts of populism in those countries in the region which have seen some form of populist rule. Populism has been thriving in the new member states of the EU ever since the outburst of the global financial and economic crisis, but unlike the cases of Latin America, Brexit or the Trump administration, the emphasis has not been on trade protectionism or unsustainable macroeconomic policies in these countries. This book demonstrates that studying macroeconomic variables such as fiscal balance or current account positions cannot tell the whole story of the economic consequences of populism. Instead, a more nuanced scrutiny of who gets what under populist rule is required. Adopting the ideational definition of populism, the volume shows that Central and Eastern European populists have heavily reshaped redistributive policies; yet, they have not neglected the budget constraint of the general government. Instead, there has been a tendency to disregard the institutional constraints of decision-making in the economy and, in turn, to redefine the regulatory framework and property rights structure of the respective economies. This innovative edited volume will be of interest to readers in political economy and political science who wish to better understand the impacts of populism.

A Benczes, I. (ed.): Economic Policies of Populist Leaders: A Central and Eastern European Perspective bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.