Book presentation “The Middle-Income Trap in Central and Eastern Europe”

In “The Middle-Income Trap in Central and Eastern Europe”, the editors argue that after the transformation shock, i.e. since the mid-1990s, the economic development of Central and Eastern Europe has maintained high economic growth rates, seemingly leading to an era of prosperity. In the last decade, the limits of the FDI-based growth model have become more visible. Today, many do not hold out much hope of the East quickly catching up with the West. This is fuelling the rise of right-wing populism in the region, without being able to offer a successful concept to overcome the middle-income trap.

The volume examines the reality of the diminishing marginal utility of further international investments alongside the pitfalls of higher government spending to cultivate innovation which ultimately makes foreign capital less attractive. Authors from diverse disciplinary perspectives reflect on current debates surrounding the developmental bottlenecks in East-Central Europe. Their common goal is to analyze the manner of socio-economic transformation, question of the relevance and impact of the “middle-income trap” and identify possible ways to escape it with measures at company level, through national policy and via European programs.

In the moderated discussion, those and other issues related to causes and consequences of the Middle-Income Trap will be addressed by the editors Yaman Kouli (Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf) and Uwe Müller (GWZO, Leipzig) and the author Grzegorz Lechowski (WZB, Berlin). The event takes place at the Fraunhofer-Zentrum für Internationales Management und Wissensökonomie IMW (Lipanum, Martin-Luther-Ring 13, 04109 Leipzig). The Leibniz ScienceCampus “Eastern Europe – Global Area” (EEGA) invites to the event and to an informal dinner after the book launch (on own expenses – pre-registration is required).

Date: 23 April 2024

Time: 5.15 – 6.45 pm

Venue: Fraunhofer-Zentrum für Internationales Management und Wissensökonomie IMW (Lipanum, Martin-Luther-Ring 13, 04109 Leipzig).

Please register via the following form or write an email to leibniz-eega@leibniz-ifl.de.