Mojmir Mrak - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Mojmir Mrak
A detailed table of contents and an index, prepared by the Secretariat, have been added to help i... more A detailed table of contents and an index, prepared by the Secretariat, have been added to help in the consultation of the assembled material. Further references have been given in editorial footnotes and subheadings in brackets where appropriate. vi reproduites sous la rubrique "(D6clarations ". La section (D6cisions judiciaires internes)) contient soit le texte int6gral des jugements, soit des r6sum6s ou extraits de d6cisions judiciaires internes, ou des notes s'y rapportant. Pour que le volume soit plus ais6 t consulter, le Secr6tariat a 6tabli une table de matires d6taill6e et un index. En outre, des renseignements suppl6mentaires ont t6 fournis, le cas 6ch6ant, dans des notes en bas de page et dans des sous-titres entre crochets.
Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 2020
ABSTRACT The Western Balkan region needs credible European development prospects to break the cyc... more ABSTRACT The Western Balkan region needs credible European development prospects to break the cycle of enlargement and accession fatigue and to speed up regional adjustment to the EU. Post-accession EU budget flows can provide the necessary funding for such prospects. This article assesses the expected changes in the size and composition of EU budget flows to the Western Balkan countries after their EU accession. Our results show a sudden and substantial increase in gross and net flows, which gradually intensifies over several years before levelling off. EU budget flows are economically important relative to the size of the Western Balkan economies, and their composition is strongly biased towards development policies. We also find that Western Balkan enlargement comes at a minimal budgetary cost for the remaining EU member states. Our findings can help reduce scepticism behind the Western Balkan countries’ accession fatigue and the EU’s enlargement fatigue.
The main objective of the article is to empirically test the intuitive and widely held hypothesis... more The main objective of the article is to empirically test the intuitive and widely held hypothesis that national interests are the driving force behind negotiations for the medium term EU financial perspectives and their outcomes. We test the validity of this hypothesis in case of negotiations for the 2007-2013 next financial perspective (NFP) in three steps: by (1) quantifying national interests in the NFP negotiations, (2) estimating hypothetical coalitions based on the quantified national interests and (3) comparing hypothetical coalitions to the actual (documented) ones. The article confirms the hypothesis that national interests have dominated in case of the 2007-2013 NFP negotiations.
After its launching in 1999 and rather successful decade-long performance, the euro-zone entered ... more After its launching in 1999 and rather successful decade-long performance, the euro-zone entered in 2010 into its first and extremely profound crisis. The crisis has been dragging on for almost four years and there isstill a lot of work to be done in order to reach a comprehensive and sustainable solution. The main objective of the article is threefold. Firstly, to present the main design failures of the original institutional structure of the euro-zone and its economic governance, secondly, to analyze the process of the euro-zone crisis management from its ad-hoc approach in 2010 to a more systematic approach applied over the recent 3 years, and thirdly, to discuss the key elements for a sustainable resolution of the euro-zone crisis. Looking in a more medium-term perspective, the solution of the euro-zone crisis is associated with an appropriate switch of the policy mix it applies. On the long-run, the resolution of the euro-zone crisis depends on the stabilisation of the public f...
I. INTRODUCTION Investment in communal infrastructure has not attracted much analytical interest ... more I. INTRODUCTION Investment in communal infrastructure has not attracted much analytical interest in Slovenia over the last few years. However, there are at least four important reasons that call for a more systematic analysis of the subject. 1. Large investment need& In the second half of 1997, an empirical study was conducted on the gap between Slovenia's overall infrastructure investment needs and the resources available for this purpose (Mrak, 1997, p. 29 and FlAg, 1997, p. 12-13). One of the study's main conclusions is that infrastructure investment needs in Slovenia amount to 8.7 percent of GDP for the 1997-2000 period. Of this total, investment needs equivalent to 1.8 percent of GDP were identified in the area of communal infrastructure covering investment in water supply, sewerage and wastewater treatment and solid waste management. One of the recognised weaknesses of the 1997 study is the relatively poor quality of data forecasting communal investment in the period 1...
The article discusses main differences in the EU enlargement strategy/process between the one app... more The article discusses main differences in the EU enlargement strategy/process between the one applied for the big-bang Eastern enlargement in 2004/2007 and the one being used for the EU accession of the Western Balkan countries. Within this framework, the article focuses on the key drivers that have contributed to the slowing down of the EU accession process for these countries over the last decade. Among others, these drivers include some traditional ones, such as lessons from the EU-10 enlargement and general “enlargement fatigue” in quite a number of EU member states, as well as a number of more recent ones, such as the consequences of the economic crisis, the migrant/ refugee crisis and the Brexit. The reduced appetite of the EU member states for Western Balkan enlargement has been reflected in the reshaped EU enlargement strategy that is now based on the so-called “fundamentals first” approach with the rule of law, early resolution of bilateral issues and strengthened economic ...
Eastern European Economics, 2005
This paper analyzes economic cooperation between Slovenia and the countries of the former Yugosla... more This paper analyzes economic cooperation between Slovenia and the countries of the former Yugoslavia. We find the region still highly unstable and bearing a high trade deficit that may prompt the governments in the region to put restrictions on trade. In order to secure exports markets, a number of Slovenian firms are actively drawing foreign direct investment (FDI) into the region. We analyze this increased investment activity in some depth, combining survey and accounting data of Slovenian major investors into the Southeastern European (SEE) region in order to reveal their motivation for FDI. We find that, so far, trade-promoting rather than efficiency-seeking or resource-seeking motives are the driving force behind this increased investment activity. Slovenian firms are predominantly oriented toward increasing sales to the region from their Slovenian headquarters rather than toward setting up SEE production facilities in order to exploit local comparative advantages. The rationale for this is the still too-unstable political and economic environment of the SEE region, the low financial discipline of local customers, and the still underutilized resources of Slovenian-headquartered firms. Trade promotion might be a short-term strategy of Slovenian firms; in the longer run, however, we find some evidence in support of efficiency-seeking and resource-seeking motives.
Departmental Working Papers, 2006
The recent agreement on financial perspective 2007-2013 provided new member states with substanti... more The recent agreement on financial perspective 2007-2013 provided new member states with substantial cohesion resources to speed up their real convergence process. The primary objective of the paper is to explore key policy issues, faced by new member states, if they want to successfully absorb available cohesion resources in the next financial perspective and outline their key policy choices and
OECD Development Centre Working Papers, 1992
Revue d’études comparatives Est-Ouest, 1999
Le present article aborde un aspect specifique de la dissolution de la RSFY, a savoir le partage ... more Le present article aborde un aspect specifique de la dissolution de la RSFY, a savoir le partage et la succession des engagements lies a la dette exterieure de l'Etat. Apres avoir rappele la structure de la dette exterieure de l'ex- Yougoslavie au moment de sa desintegration, l'auteur propose une analyse comparative des principes de partage de la dette exterieure tels qu'ils ont ete definis par le droit international et appliques dans la realite. Dans les trois parties suivantes, il etudie en detail : (1) les principes ayant gouverne le partage de la dette exterieure de l'ex- Yougoslavie entre les Etats successeurs, (2) les mecanismes institutionnels appliques lors des negociations entre les Etats successeurs et les divers groupes de creanciers etrangers et (3) les accords conclus par chaque Etat successeur avec les institutions financieres internationales ainsi qu'avec les Clubs de Paris et de Londres. En definitive, bien que les resultats aient ete fortement decevants quant a l'ensemble de la succession des actifs et passifs de la RSFY, l'operation de partage et de succession de sa dette exterieure a ete en grande partie menee a bien.
A brainstorming meeting on Reconstruction and Regional Cooperation in the Balkans was held in Vou... more A brainstorming meeting on Reconstruction and Regional Cooperation in the Balkans was held in Vouliagmeni on 8-10 July 1999, covering the issues of security, democratisation, economic reconstruction and the role of civil society. It was attended by academics and policy makers from all the countries in the region, from a number of EU countries, from the European Commission, the USA and Russia. Based on ideas and discussions generated at this meeting, a policy paper on Balkan Reconstruction and European Integration was the product of a collaborative effort by the two LSE institutes and the wiiw. The paper was presented at a follow-up meeting on Reconstruction and Integration in Southeast Europe in Vienna on 12-13 November 1999, which focused on the economic aspects of the process of reconstruction in the Balkans. It is this policy paper that became the very first Working Paper of the wiiw Balkan Observatory Working Papers series. The Working Papers are published online at www.balkanobservatory.net, the internet portal of the wiiw Balkan Observatory. It is a portal for research and communication in relation to economic developments in Southeast Europe maintained by the wiiw since 1999. Since 2000 it also serves as a forum for the Global Development Network Southeast Europe (GDN-SEE) project, which is based on an initiative by The World Bank with financial support from the Austrian Ministry of Finance and the Oesterreichische Nationalbank. The purpose of the GDN-SEE project is the creation of research networks throughout Southeast Europe in order to enhance the economic research capacity in Southeast Europe, to build new research capacities by mobilising young researchers, to promote knowledge transfer into the region, to facilitate networking between researchers within the region, and to assist in securing knowledge transfer from researchers to policy makers. The wiiw Balkan Observatory Working Papers series is one way to achieve these objectives. The wiiw Balkan Observatory Global Development Network Southeast Europe This study has been developed in the framework of research networks initiated and monitored by wiiw under the premises of the GDN-SEE partnership. The Global Development Network, initiated by The World Bank, is a global network of research and policy institutes working together to address the problems of national and regional development. It promotes the generation of local knowledge in developing and transition countries and aims at building research capacities in the different regions.
Eastern European Economics, 2009
The main objective of the paper is to assess macroeconomic and financial absorption capacity of t... more The main objective of the paper is to assess macroeconomic and financial absorption capacity of the EU candidate country Turkey for the use of preaccession funds in the period before the country will join the European Union as well as for the use of structural action funds in the period following its accession to the European Union.
The report assesses the performance of the so-called “Catching-up Member States” of the EU with r... more The report assesses the performance of the so-called “Catching-up Member States” of the EU with respect to their transformation towards the knowledge economy. “Catching-Up Member States”, are ten “new” MS and four former cohesion Member States Greece, Portugal, Spain and Ireland. The catching-up process does not follow a simple new Member States (MS) versus old Member States divide. Some new MS, especially Slovenia and the Czech Republic, are catching-up on the knowledge performance dimension and perform better than some of the former cohesion countries, like Portugal and Greece. The report suggests strengthening the research infrastructure in the catching-up countries in order to allow the growth of the knowledge economy in support of economic convergence
The EU budget is a tool through which money is collected and allocated for EU policies and object... more The EU budget is a tool through which money is collected and allocated for EU policies and objectives as well as for the tasks transferred to it from the national level. This article starts by presenting the concept and evolution of the EU budget. It then discusses the principles and procedures governing its adoption and implementation, presenting the key features
Eastern European Economics, 1999
Transition Studies Review, 2004
A detailed table of contents and an index, prepared by the Secretariat, have been added to help i... more A detailed table of contents and an index, prepared by the Secretariat, have been added to help in the consultation of the assembled material. Further references have been given in editorial footnotes and subheadings in brackets where appropriate. vi reproduites sous la rubrique "(D6clarations ". La section (D6cisions judiciaires internes)) contient soit le texte int6gral des jugements, soit des r6sum6s ou extraits de d6cisions judiciaires internes, ou des notes s'y rapportant. Pour que le volume soit plus ais6 t consulter, le Secr6tariat a 6tabli une table de matires d6taill6e et un index. En outre, des renseignements suppl6mentaires ont t6 fournis, le cas 6ch6ant, dans des notes en bas de page et dans des sous-titres entre crochets.
Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 2020
ABSTRACT The Western Balkan region needs credible European development prospects to break the cyc... more ABSTRACT The Western Balkan region needs credible European development prospects to break the cycle of enlargement and accession fatigue and to speed up regional adjustment to the EU. Post-accession EU budget flows can provide the necessary funding for such prospects. This article assesses the expected changes in the size and composition of EU budget flows to the Western Balkan countries after their EU accession. Our results show a sudden and substantial increase in gross and net flows, which gradually intensifies over several years before levelling off. EU budget flows are economically important relative to the size of the Western Balkan economies, and their composition is strongly biased towards development policies. We also find that Western Balkan enlargement comes at a minimal budgetary cost for the remaining EU member states. Our findings can help reduce scepticism behind the Western Balkan countries’ accession fatigue and the EU’s enlargement fatigue.
The main objective of the article is to empirically test the intuitive and widely held hypothesis... more The main objective of the article is to empirically test the intuitive and widely held hypothesis that national interests are the driving force behind negotiations for the medium term EU financial perspectives and their outcomes. We test the validity of this hypothesis in case of negotiations for the 2007-2013 next financial perspective (NFP) in three steps: by (1) quantifying national interests in the NFP negotiations, (2) estimating hypothetical coalitions based on the quantified national interests and (3) comparing hypothetical coalitions to the actual (documented) ones. The article confirms the hypothesis that national interests have dominated in case of the 2007-2013 NFP negotiations.
After its launching in 1999 and rather successful decade-long performance, the euro-zone entered ... more After its launching in 1999 and rather successful decade-long performance, the euro-zone entered in 2010 into its first and extremely profound crisis. The crisis has been dragging on for almost four years and there isstill a lot of work to be done in order to reach a comprehensive and sustainable solution. The main objective of the article is threefold. Firstly, to present the main design failures of the original institutional structure of the euro-zone and its economic governance, secondly, to analyze the process of the euro-zone crisis management from its ad-hoc approach in 2010 to a more systematic approach applied over the recent 3 years, and thirdly, to discuss the key elements for a sustainable resolution of the euro-zone crisis. Looking in a more medium-term perspective, the solution of the euro-zone crisis is associated with an appropriate switch of the policy mix it applies. On the long-run, the resolution of the euro-zone crisis depends on the stabilisation of the public f...
I. INTRODUCTION Investment in communal infrastructure has not attracted much analytical interest ... more I. INTRODUCTION Investment in communal infrastructure has not attracted much analytical interest in Slovenia over the last few years. However, there are at least four important reasons that call for a more systematic analysis of the subject. 1. Large investment need& In the second half of 1997, an empirical study was conducted on the gap between Slovenia's overall infrastructure investment needs and the resources available for this purpose (Mrak, 1997, p. 29 and FlAg, 1997, p. 12-13). One of the study's main conclusions is that infrastructure investment needs in Slovenia amount to 8.7 percent of GDP for the 1997-2000 period. Of this total, investment needs equivalent to 1.8 percent of GDP were identified in the area of communal infrastructure covering investment in water supply, sewerage and wastewater treatment and solid waste management. One of the recognised weaknesses of the 1997 study is the relatively poor quality of data forecasting communal investment in the period 1...
The article discusses main differences in the EU enlargement strategy/process between the one app... more The article discusses main differences in the EU enlargement strategy/process between the one applied for the big-bang Eastern enlargement in 2004/2007 and the one being used for the EU accession of the Western Balkan countries. Within this framework, the article focuses on the key drivers that have contributed to the slowing down of the EU accession process for these countries over the last decade. Among others, these drivers include some traditional ones, such as lessons from the EU-10 enlargement and general “enlargement fatigue” in quite a number of EU member states, as well as a number of more recent ones, such as the consequences of the economic crisis, the migrant/ refugee crisis and the Brexit. The reduced appetite of the EU member states for Western Balkan enlargement has been reflected in the reshaped EU enlargement strategy that is now based on the so-called “fundamentals first” approach with the rule of law, early resolution of bilateral issues and strengthened economic ...
Eastern European Economics, 2005
This paper analyzes economic cooperation between Slovenia and the countries of the former Yugosla... more This paper analyzes economic cooperation between Slovenia and the countries of the former Yugoslavia. We find the region still highly unstable and bearing a high trade deficit that may prompt the governments in the region to put restrictions on trade. In order to secure exports markets, a number of Slovenian firms are actively drawing foreign direct investment (FDI) into the region. We analyze this increased investment activity in some depth, combining survey and accounting data of Slovenian major investors into the Southeastern European (SEE) region in order to reveal their motivation for FDI. We find that, so far, trade-promoting rather than efficiency-seeking or resource-seeking motives are the driving force behind this increased investment activity. Slovenian firms are predominantly oriented toward increasing sales to the region from their Slovenian headquarters rather than toward setting up SEE production facilities in order to exploit local comparative advantages. The rationale for this is the still too-unstable political and economic environment of the SEE region, the low financial discipline of local customers, and the still underutilized resources of Slovenian-headquartered firms. Trade promotion might be a short-term strategy of Slovenian firms; in the longer run, however, we find some evidence in support of efficiency-seeking and resource-seeking motives.
Departmental Working Papers, 2006
The recent agreement on financial perspective 2007-2013 provided new member states with substanti... more The recent agreement on financial perspective 2007-2013 provided new member states with substantial cohesion resources to speed up their real convergence process. The primary objective of the paper is to explore key policy issues, faced by new member states, if they want to successfully absorb available cohesion resources in the next financial perspective and outline their key policy choices and
OECD Development Centre Working Papers, 1992
Revue d’études comparatives Est-Ouest, 1999
Le present article aborde un aspect specifique de la dissolution de la RSFY, a savoir le partage ... more Le present article aborde un aspect specifique de la dissolution de la RSFY, a savoir le partage et la succession des engagements lies a la dette exterieure de l'Etat. Apres avoir rappele la structure de la dette exterieure de l'ex- Yougoslavie au moment de sa desintegration, l'auteur propose une analyse comparative des principes de partage de la dette exterieure tels qu'ils ont ete definis par le droit international et appliques dans la realite. Dans les trois parties suivantes, il etudie en detail : (1) les principes ayant gouverne le partage de la dette exterieure de l'ex- Yougoslavie entre les Etats successeurs, (2) les mecanismes institutionnels appliques lors des negociations entre les Etats successeurs et les divers groupes de creanciers etrangers et (3) les accords conclus par chaque Etat successeur avec les institutions financieres internationales ainsi qu'avec les Clubs de Paris et de Londres. En definitive, bien que les resultats aient ete fortement decevants quant a l'ensemble de la succession des actifs et passifs de la RSFY, l'operation de partage et de succession de sa dette exterieure a ete en grande partie menee a bien.
A brainstorming meeting on Reconstruction and Regional Cooperation in the Balkans was held in Vou... more A brainstorming meeting on Reconstruction and Regional Cooperation in the Balkans was held in Vouliagmeni on 8-10 July 1999, covering the issues of security, democratisation, economic reconstruction and the role of civil society. It was attended by academics and policy makers from all the countries in the region, from a number of EU countries, from the European Commission, the USA and Russia. Based on ideas and discussions generated at this meeting, a policy paper on Balkan Reconstruction and European Integration was the product of a collaborative effort by the two LSE institutes and the wiiw. The paper was presented at a follow-up meeting on Reconstruction and Integration in Southeast Europe in Vienna on 12-13 November 1999, which focused on the economic aspects of the process of reconstruction in the Balkans. It is this policy paper that became the very first Working Paper of the wiiw Balkan Observatory Working Papers series. The Working Papers are published online at www.balkanobservatory.net, the internet portal of the wiiw Balkan Observatory. It is a portal for research and communication in relation to economic developments in Southeast Europe maintained by the wiiw since 1999. Since 2000 it also serves as a forum for the Global Development Network Southeast Europe (GDN-SEE) project, which is based on an initiative by The World Bank with financial support from the Austrian Ministry of Finance and the Oesterreichische Nationalbank. The purpose of the GDN-SEE project is the creation of research networks throughout Southeast Europe in order to enhance the economic research capacity in Southeast Europe, to build new research capacities by mobilising young researchers, to promote knowledge transfer into the region, to facilitate networking between researchers within the region, and to assist in securing knowledge transfer from researchers to policy makers. The wiiw Balkan Observatory Working Papers series is one way to achieve these objectives. The wiiw Balkan Observatory Global Development Network Southeast Europe This study has been developed in the framework of research networks initiated and monitored by wiiw under the premises of the GDN-SEE partnership. The Global Development Network, initiated by The World Bank, is a global network of research and policy institutes working together to address the problems of national and regional development. It promotes the generation of local knowledge in developing and transition countries and aims at building research capacities in the different regions.
Eastern European Economics, 2009
The main objective of the paper is to assess macroeconomic and financial absorption capacity of t... more The main objective of the paper is to assess macroeconomic and financial absorption capacity of the EU candidate country Turkey for the use of preaccession funds in the period before the country will join the European Union as well as for the use of structural action funds in the period following its accession to the European Union.
The report assesses the performance of the so-called “Catching-up Member States” of the EU with r... more The report assesses the performance of the so-called “Catching-up Member States” of the EU with respect to their transformation towards the knowledge economy. “Catching-Up Member States”, are ten “new” MS and four former cohesion Member States Greece, Portugal, Spain and Ireland. The catching-up process does not follow a simple new Member States (MS) versus old Member States divide. Some new MS, especially Slovenia and the Czech Republic, are catching-up on the knowledge performance dimension and perform better than some of the former cohesion countries, like Portugal and Greece. The report suggests strengthening the research infrastructure in the catching-up countries in order to allow the growth of the knowledge economy in support of economic convergence
The EU budget is a tool through which money is collected and allocated for EU policies and object... more The EU budget is a tool through which money is collected and allocated for EU policies and objectives as well as for the tasks transferred to it from the national level. This article starts by presenting the concept and evolution of the EU budget. It then discusses the principles and procedures governing its adoption and implementation, presenting the key features
Eastern European Economics, 1999
Transition Studies Review, 2004