The new @wiiw_news Handbook of #Statistics 2018 contains updated key #macroeconomic & structural indicators for 22 economies in #CESEE serving as easy-to-use reference tool & facilitating comparisons across topics, countries & time.
wiiw.ac.at/wiiw-handbook-…
Thread: 1/11

New features of the 2018 ed. include e.g.
- new key indicators at #regional levels
- #wages & #investment data by activity now also available for #Turkey
- comparable #structural breakdown for all countries
Find below examples of some conclusions from the newly released data
2/11

All countries in #CESEE experienced positive #economic #growth in 2017, clear leader was #EUCEE with average real GDP growth of 4.9%. Ten economies achieved their highest real #GDP growth rates over the last 5 years.
3/11

Strong domestic #demand was supported in 2017 by high real #wages #growth in most #CESEE countries, especially in comparison with Western #EU and many other economies around the world. On the sub-regional level #EUCEE recorded the strongest increases in real #earnings.
4/11

Most countries in #CESEE have narrowed the #income #gap with #EU28 average over last 10 years, but regional disparities are substantial. While #EUCEE gained about 9.9pp, the #WesternBalkans on avg gained 3pp, with #CIS & #Ukraine only having a 0.8pp increase of convergence.
5/11

Among countries in #CESEE main success stories in #convergence of last 5 years were #Lithuania, #Romania & Montenegro which gained 8.7, 8.6 & 6.9pp against #EU28 avg income level. Only 4 countries fell back: #Albania, #Ukraine, #Belarus & #Russia w/ 1.1, 4.2, 5.1 & 10.6pp
6/11

#Demographic factors are significant for shaping #convergence processes. In #EUCEE & #WesternBalkans sub-regions #population is declining, with one of the reasons being #emigration to wealthier #EU countries.
7/11

#Labour market tightening in 2017 in comparison to previous year is clearly reflected in falling #unemployment rates in almost all #CESEE countries (except #Ukraine & #Kosovo). However unemployment rates in 9 of 22 regions covered are still higher than pre-crisis level.
8/11

Gross external #debt in #CESEE as share of #GDP declined substantially in 2017 compared to 2016, but has still not reached pre-crisis level. Among individual countries #Kosovo w/ 33.2% & #Russia w/ 31% external debt to GDP ratios are least dependent on foreign borrowing.
9/11

#Albania #Turkey #CzechRepublic & #Poland expanded inward #FDI stocks more than 10% in 2017 w/ #Belarus #Hungary #Kazakhstan #Russia & #Ukraine experienced decline in inward stock. The share of FDI stocks in #infrastructure industries is less than 15% in 19 of 22 countries
10/11

Read more: wiiw.ac.at/wiiw-handbook-…
Find the underlying tables (Excel version) here: wiiw.ac.at/wiiw-handbook-…
Download and/or order the hardcopy here: wiiw.ac.at/wiiw-handbook-…
11/11 (FIN)