The Golden Age of Central and Eastern Europe: How to Keep It Going?

Marcin Piatkowski ()
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Marcin Piatkowski: Kozminski University

Chapter Chapter 12 in The Future of European Integration, 2026, pp 377-402 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract The objective of the chapter is to (i) take stock of the performance of ten European Union member states from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), from Estonia to Croatia (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.), (ii) analyze key future growth scenarios, and (iii) discuss policy directions that would allow the region to fully catch up with Western Europe. The chapter argues that (i) all CEE countries are living through their Golden Age, defined as the shortest distance in income and quality of life relative to Western Europe in their history, (ii) the mid-term growth prospects are positive and the region will continue to converge with Western Europe, (iii) however, in the baseline scenario, the pace of convergence will gradually decline and CEE may stop converging sometime in the next decade. To continue fast growth and ensure full convergence not only with the economically weaker Southern Europe, but also with the stronger Northern Europe, CEE countries will need to adopt an adjusted growth model, which will need to rely more on institutions, investments, innovation, immigration, and inclusiveness (5i).

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:stuchp:978-3-032-20186-7_12

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-20186-7_12

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