Patterns of transition (by K. Poznanski, J. Poznanska and H.Y. Liu; pp. 1-11) Keywords transition, shock therapy, privatization, market vs. state Countries covered CEE, CIS, East Asia Topics Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy Recent trends in the quality of traded goods NMS are closing the gaps...

Abstract Trade in goods and services is likely to be an important channel for international knowledge diffusion. This paper considers the extent of R&D spillovers through intermediate inputs for a sample of up to 40 developed and developing countries. Results suggest that such spillovers are...

Our study extends the recent literature on the importer-productivity relationship to a firm-level dataset for sub-Saharan Africa. Using a cross-section sample of 3090 firms in 19 countries, we find that importers are more productive than non-importers. The observed importer premium is found to...

This paper examines productivity differences between internationally trading and non-trading firms using data on a sample of firms from 19 sub-Saharan African countries. The paper provides the first evidence of whether exporters, importers and two-way traders perform better than non-traders, and...

This paper adds to the small but growing literature that considers a relationship between the way a firm serves foreign markets and its subsequent performance. The current paper is the first to consider this issue for a sample of sub-Saharan African countries and includes data on both...

Innovation is considered to be an important determinant of performance at the firm, industry and country level. This view is supported by empirical evidence showing the importance of innovative activities on firm and industry performance and country growth rates. The majority of the world’s...

The dark side of the Balkans (the shadow economy in Southeastern Europe) (by Edward Christie and Mario Holzner) Are CEECs trapped in low-quality export specialization? (by Uwe Dullek, Neil Foster, Robert Stehrer and Julia Wörz) Do interest rate differentials determine the movements in the...

Trade and economic integration in the CIS an evaluation (by Vasily Astrov, Peter Havlik and Olga Pindyuk; pp. 1-3) Keywords trade, economic integration Countries covered CIS Topics International Trade, Competitiveness and FDI Volume and variety of intra-bloc trade in an expanded European Union...

Graph of the month Share of foreign value added in the exports of selected countries Opinion corner What might be the economic consequences of a potential territorial break-up of Ukraine? (by Vasily Astrov) Trade integration, vertical specialisation and employment growth in the new Member States...

Summary This study analyses the impact of knowledge assets on productivity and technical efficiency in the EU, as well as their role in the process of knowledge transfer. The analysis covers the role of the institutional and regulatory environment in affecting productivity and technical...