Greece: The Long Process of Economic and Institutional Convergence

Author(s):  
Salvador Pérez-Moreno ◽  
Elena Bárcena-Martín ◽  
Jo Ritzen

Author(s):  
Tobias Lenz

Abstract How and with what effects do institutions diffuse between international organizations (IOs)? An emerging literature extends a key insight of the study of diffusion processes among states to the international level, establishing that the adoption of institutions in IOs is regularly conditioned by the choices of other IOs. Yet, this literature neglects a key contextual difference between the two settings: unlike in the hierarchically structured organizations that have dominated the literature on diffusion, institutional creation, and change in IOs are the result of decentralized bargaining among sovereign governments. This paper develops a heuristic model that shows how diffusion between IOs shapes decision-making within them through its impact on the institutional preferences of individual governments. The model establishes that, unlike in diffusion processes among states, convergence is an unlikely outcome of diffusion between IOs. By implication, studies that take institutional convergence as their starting point are likely to underestimate the pervasiveness of diffusion effects. I demonstrate these arguments with a case study of the establishment of a regional dispute settlement system in Mercosur, a regional organization in Latin America.


Author(s):  
Anıl Duman ◽  
Alper Duman

This chapter examines the degree of income and institutional convergence between Turkey and European Union (EU) as well as trends in inequality and poverty by taking a long-term perspective as changes in polices an institutions impact on economic and social outcomes, often with considerable lags. The authors’ findings reveal that Turkey has successfully transformed its inward-looking and largely agricultural economy in the past 35 years into an export-oriented and urban-based economy. The transformation has been achieved mostly in periods of dramatic reform embedded in business and political cycles. Nevertheless, in the most recent era, there have been significant setbacks for certain groups in terms of regulatory environment, equality of opportunity, and access to markets and resources. Although there has been progress in the overall distribution of income and other aspects of social inclusion, convergence to EU standards is not easy to observe in these indicators.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Lenz

Why have many regional organizations adopted common markets and customs unions? This article proposes a cognitive diffusion mechanism – termed frame diffusion – to explain convergent institutional choices across structurally diverse settings. Using Strang and Meyer’s (1993) notion of ‘theorization’ to combine foundational work on framing with the literature on diffusion, I argue that processes of theorization transform the experience of successful institutional innovators into abstract cognitive schemas, which link a particular understanding of a cooperation problem to specific institutional solutions. As policymakers in other contexts encounter similar cooperation problems, they adopt framed institutional solutions, which results in institutional convergence at the macro level. I further suggest that this process of frame diffusion is conditional on ideational affinities in social purpose between the innovating organization and other regional organizations. Where other organizations pursue a distinct social purpose, policymakers rely on alternative frames and thereby cement institutional variation. After developing this argument theoretically, I illustrate it in an exploratory comparison of institutional choice in three most different regional organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Common Market of the South, and the Southern African Development Community. The argument points to significant ‘blind spots’ and conceptual complementarity between prominent mechanisms of diffusion.


1969 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margit Suurna

In light of the current debate on the validation of the prevalent business models and trends taking place in the field of biotechnology in developed countries (see here in particular Pisano versus Glick), it is relevant to explore whether, and if so in which form and circumstances, the set arguments hold up and could be complemented by the context prevalent in transition countries. As one of the main concerns for the long-term development in the area relies on Pisano's argument that the sector is moving towards greater fragmentation, the deep analysis of that becomes particularly important in an environment where the very same problems are somewhat rooted in the local policymaking context and business environment. A specific example can be drawn here from the Central and Eastern European countries (CEE). Derived from this, the aim of the current article is to trace the trends in biotechnology business models in one of the rather well-performing CEE countries: Estonia. The article argues that the developments in the business models in Estonia are led by two rather contrary directions, where on the one hand increasing specialization and fragmentation and on the other hand movements towards geographical and institutional convergence can be detected.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-300
Author(s):  
Josip Viskovic ◽  
Pasko Burnac ◽  
Ivan Ramljak

This paper, using panel data analysis, tries to identify factors regarding the different convergence rates of CESEE EU member countries’ real income between 2002 and 2018. Stylized convergence facts are identified and the drivers of economic growth based on production function, i.e. the accumulation of labour and capital and total factor productivity (TFP) growth have been analysed. Moreover, paper takes into account other variables that have been recognized as growth determining factors - trade openness, FDI, labour market and integration level, as well as TFP determining factors - institutional quality, innovation and human capital. Based on the research results trade openness and gross capital formation have been identified as key factors regarding real income growth of analysed countries. Also, it has been confirmed that growth of CESEE countries is strongly affected by the growth of Eurozone. Finally, the authors’ conclusion is that several CESEE countries are facing institutional convergence challenges.


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