Eastern European Economics

Challenges of Integration and Economic Resilience in Central and Eastern Europe

More than three decades after the start of the post-socialist transition, Central and Eastern
European countries (CEECs) have become deeply integrated into European and global economic
structures. EU accession, foreign direct investment, participation in global value chains, and
institutional reforms have contributed to substantial economic transformation and convergence.
Yet recent events have revealed important vulnerabilities that continue to shape the region's
development prospects.

The COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and growing
geopolitical tensions have exposed weaknesses that years of integration have not entirely
resolved. Dependence on external markets and capital, concentration in specific export
activities, demographic pressures, uneven institutional development, and persistent regional
disparities continue to abect the capacity of CEECs to respond to external shocks. At the same
time, the increasing fragmentation of the international economy raises new questions about the
sustainability of existing development models and the future position of the region within
European and global production networks.

This special issue seeks to examine the relationship between economic integration and economic
resilience in Central and Eastern Europe. We are interested in contributions that explore how
countries, regions, sectors, firms, and institutions have responded to recent economic,
geopolitical, demographic, technological, and environmental challenges. Particular attention will
be given to the factors that explain diberences in resilience across countries and regions, as well
as to the implications for long-term development, convergence, and economic policy.

We welcome submissions from economics, regional science, economic geography, political
economy, public policy, and related fields. Both theoretical and empirical contributions are
encouraged. Single-country studies, comparative analyses, cross-country investigations, and
research focusing on sub-national dynamics are all within the scope of the special issue. Papers
should aim not only to document recent developments, but also to provide insights into the
mechanisms that shape resilience and adaptation in the region.

In a context of growing uncertainty and structural change, understanding the challenges facing
Central and Eastern Europe remains essential for assessing the future of European integration
and the development trajectories of the region.

Specific topics may include (but are not limited to):

• What factors drive convergence and divergence across CEE economies and regions, and
to what extent have EU cohesion policies contributed to reducing development gaps?
• How much does institutional quality (rule of law, bureaucratic capacity, anti-corruption)
account for diberences in economic resilience across the region?
• How have recent geopolitical and supply-chain disruptions reshaped the position of CEE
economies within global value chains, and to what extent have they benefited from
nearshoring and friend-shoring strategies?
• What have been the measurable economic consequences of the war in Ukraine for
neighboring CEE economies in terms of trade, energy security, migration, inflation, and
financial stability, and what are the medium-term implications?
• How are CEE economies balancing the fiscal and structural demands of the green
transition with existing development and public-finance constraints?
• How are CEE economies balancing the fiscal and structural demands of the green
transition with existing development and public-finance constraints?
• How is demographic decline abecting labor markets and long-run growth prospects, and
are there policy responses that have worked?
• To what extent is digital transformation enhancing economic resilience in CEE, and does
it reduce or reinforce technological dependencies?
• How pronounced are regional disparities within CEE countries, and what do they reveal
about the spatial limits of national development and resilience strategies?