Growth without development: institutional barriers to convergence in EU candidate states

This research analyzes the effect of institutions on economic growth in eight EU candidate transition countries, combining quantitative (β-convergence models) and qualitative (integration maturity framework) methodologies. Drawing on three sets of theories - convergence, institutional economics, and...

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Main Authors: Dzenita Siljak, Kristian L. Nielsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi 2025-06-01
Series:Eastern Journal of European Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ejes.uaic.ro/articles/EJES2025_1601_02_SIJ.pdf
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author Dzenita Siljak
Kristian L. Nielsen
author_facet Dzenita Siljak
Kristian L. Nielsen
author_sort Dzenita Siljak
collection DOAJ
description This research analyzes the effect of institutions on economic growth in eight EU candidate transition countries, combining quantitative (β-convergence models) and qualitative (integration maturity framework) methodologies. Drawing on three sets of theories - convergence, institutional economics, and integration maturity - we analyze whether the transition countries have experienced growth without development. The research question is: Why have they lagged on their path towards EU membership? To answer this, we test the research hypothesis that institutions have not had a sufficient impact on the convergence of transition countries towards the EU. The analyzed period is 2004-2022. Countries with efficient institutions tend to experience faster economic growth. This research shows that inefficient institutions are a reason why transition countries have not seized their 'advantage of backwardness'.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2068-651X
2068-6633
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi
record_format Article
series Eastern Journal of European Studies
spelling doaj-art-2e30e746f3874d6d87a30f3c24c9d29c2025-08-20T03:28:32ZengAlexandru Ioan Cuza University of IasiEastern Journal of European Studies2068-651X2068-66332025-06-01161133610.47743/ejes-2025-0102Growth without development: institutional barriers to convergence in EU candidate statesDzenita Siljakhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0149-4324Kristian L. Nielsenhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2607-3091This research analyzes the effect of institutions on economic growth in eight EU candidate transition countries, combining quantitative (β-convergence models) and qualitative (integration maturity framework) methodologies. Drawing on three sets of theories - convergence, institutional economics, and integration maturity - we analyze whether the transition countries have experienced growth without development. The research question is: Why have they lagged on their path towards EU membership? To answer this, we test the research hypothesis that institutions have not had a sufficient impact on the convergence of transition countries towards the EU. The analyzed period is 2004-2022. Countries with efficient institutions tend to experience faster economic growth. This research shows that inefficient institutions are a reason why transition countries have not seized their 'advantage of backwardness'. https://ejes.uaic.ro/articles/EJES2025_1601_02_SIJ.pdfeuropean integrationtransitionconvergenceintegration maturityinstitutions
spellingShingle Dzenita Siljak
Kristian L. Nielsen
Growth without development: institutional barriers to convergence in EU candidate states
Eastern Journal of European Studies
european integration
transition
convergence
integration maturity
institutions
title Growth without development: institutional barriers to convergence in EU candidate states
title_full Growth without development: institutional barriers to convergence in EU candidate states
title_fullStr Growth without development: institutional barriers to convergence in EU candidate states
title_full_unstemmed Growth without development: institutional barriers to convergence in EU candidate states
title_short Growth without development: institutional barriers to convergence in EU candidate states
title_sort growth without development institutional barriers to convergence in eu candidate states
topic european integration
transition
convergence
integration maturity
institutions
url https://ejes.uaic.ro/articles/EJES2025_1601_02_SIJ.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT dzenitasiljak growthwithoutdevelopmentinstitutionalbarrierstoconvergenceineucandidatestates
AT kristianlnielsen growthwithoutdevelopmentinstitutionalbarrierstoconvergenceineucandidatestates