Projects / Programmes
Vpliv lastništva in participacije zaposlenih v kapitalu, dobičku ter v upravljanju podjetij na ekonomske rezultate podjetij v državah bivše Jugoslavije (Slovene)
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.02.01 |
Social sciences |
Economics |
Economy sciences |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.02 |
Social Sciences |
Economics and Business |
Researchers (7)
Organisations (1)
Significance for science
The Western Balkan region is in terms of its global economic importance a peripheral region. After the Second World War it caught attention of the researchers because of its specific model of socialism. The self-managed enterprise and negative price elasticities of supply resulted in a widespread international debate regarding the efficiency of worker-owned firms and the model of self-management itself. During the dissolution and war in the territory of ex-Yugoslavia the researchers lost interest in the region. However, Slovenia successfully mitigated several downturns and was often referred to as ‘the success story of transition’. But the extent to which the current crisis affected Slovenian economy quickly exhibited the similarities the country thought it had no longer shared with the former Yugoslav countries.
The project investigates firms' behaviour in the region during the ownership transformation and delayed liberalisation using a comprehensive firm-level database, acquired from primary and secondary sources. The analyzed period was divided into two parts. First, the time before the crisis (boom period), which could be best described by the increased liquidity in all investigated countries (capital surge). The crisis, marking the onset of the second sub-period, caused not only a sudden stop in capital inflow, but additionally also decreased global demand. The project systematically investigates firms’ reactions to external shocks in a comparative perspective (comparing also to other European regions). As such, it can be considered as a major contribution to the development of several scientific fields within economics and business.
As a result of the work, an international research consortium was also established. The research work and cooperation strengthened the flow of information, data and research that was previously much less intense. It should be noted that the consortium comprises acknowledged researchers from each of the countries involved. The research work already resulted in a number of contributions to the literature (books, chapters in books, research articles). In addition, several workshops were organized focusing on the content and timeline of the research, theoretical and empirical foundations, data collection and discussion of preliminary results. The collaboration also resulted in mutual attendance of conferences organized by the partners, in order to disseminate the results. We are pleased that through this dissemination also the policy makers in many countries were made familiar with the results of the research.
Finally several younger researchers and co-workers from all countries involved benefited from the project. This is especially important since it fosters development of the scientific community, ensures the continuity of the academic work and contributes thereby to economic progress.
Significance for the country
The project is important for Slovenia for several reasons. (1) Former Yugoslav countries, including Slovenia, and in addition also Albania are part of the Western Balkan region. Strategically it is important for Slovenia to be familiar with their economic environment. The region is also more widely interesting since some of the countries will soon become part of the EU (Croatia), while others have or will start the accession processes. (2) The investigated countries are small open economies that are (or will have to be) export oriented. Because of geo-political reasons Slovenia is their important economic partner. (3) Slovenian companies have a long tradition of operating in former Yugoslav markets and also Albania. It should be noted that the knowledge about firm behaviour in the region is their significant competitive advantage. (4) Being a member of the EU Slovenia has to fulfil several international agreements (Stabilisation pact). One of them is also the academic cooperation. The research consortium that gathers researchers from all the investigated countries and was established within the project contributes to reaching this goal. Although the project formally ended, the consortium is still active and has been transferred to the Institute for South East Europe (ISEE), one of the most productive institutes at the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana. (5) Research results were annually presented at the Portorož Business Conference, organized by the Faculty of Economics and Finance Daily. With the participation of up to 1000 businessmen, politicians and researchers the dissemination of results was not only wide but primarily also targeted most important economic agents. In addition, the results were published in a book. (6) Slovenian researchers participated in a number of conferences organized by the members of the consortium (conference of the Faculty of Economics in Split, Belgrad, Niš, Banja Luka and Podgorica). In 2012 Faculty of Economics in Belgrad awarded special recognition to the cooperation between their institution and the Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana. (7) During the project the participants gathered information and knowledge that serves as foundation for future research, publication and deepens existing cooperation with a number of researchers involved because of their common research interests (such as with Svejnar from Columbia University in New York and Bole from the EIPF). (8) Project results are also regularly used in the teaching process at several levels. Master students, especially students from the International Full Time Master Programme in Business and Administration at the Faculty of economics (IMB), are mostly exposed to lectures and articles which broaden the ¬more theoretical topics with practical experiences relevant for their region. In addition doctoral students from the Faculty of Economics (Trobec, Farčnik, Voje, Lalović and Drenkovska) and from partner institutions are also included in the research consortium.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
