Impact of Global Financial Crisis on Economic Cohesion of the Countries of Central-Eastern Europe

Abstract

The aim of this study is the identification and interpretation of the different effects of the global financial crisis on the process of building economic cohesion in Central-Eastern Europe (CEE). Therefore, the text presents the results of a preliminary analysis of the process of economic development of 11 CEE countries in 2008–2014, and so during the global financial crisis and following recession and macroeconomic instability, especially in the sector of public finances. This process is presented in the context of European Union cohesion policy. Particular attention was paid to the impact of the crisis on economic growth of individual CEE countries. Paper consists of an introduction, two parts and synthetic conclusions. In the first part, the territorial, demographic and economic potential of Central – Eastern Europe was presented against the European Union. It was found that its size is not impressive, but still important on a continental scale. The negative role of observed in CEE since the mid-1990s trend of depopulation was out-lined, which during the crisis has deepened. In the second part there were discussed and interpreted the consequences of the global crisis on economic cohesion of CEE. This was done on the basis of a comparative analysis of the level and pace of GDP growth in the CEE countries, allowing to determine the results of the process of economic convergence taking place in these countries. Research results presented in the article prove that in the discussed period economic conver-gence of CEE countries clearly dominated the divergence, which undoubtedly is due Community cohesion policy. The process of development was, however, very diverse, and the crisis has had negative impact on it, but in the field of convergence it was ambiguous. In some countries, accel-eration of convergence took place in this particular period (the largest in Poland), while the other divergence occurred (Croatia, Slovenia) or position in relation to the EU average has not changed compared to precrisis level (Estonia, Czech Republic).