The recent Covid-19 pandemic and recent economic and political turbulences exacerbate issues related to the economic and political resilience of countries. In this context, digitalization and productivity improvement, the development of the labour market and human capital, as well as regional disparities, and economic and social stratification, need special attention by policymakers and businesses. Adequate solutions to these issues will contribute to the enhancement of the competitiveness of Europe.

The chapters collected here examine the economic development, main experiences, lessons learned, and the challenges and perspectives ahead of the new member states of the EU to identify the determinants of imbalances in the economic development of these countries.

Contemporary Studies in Economic and Financial Analysis publishes a series of current and relevant themed volumes within the fields of economics and finance. Both disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies are welcome.

Simon Grima is the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy, Associate Professor and the Head of the Department of Insurance and Risk Management at the University of Malta. Simon is also a Professor at the University of Latvia, Faculty of Business, Management and Economics and a Visiting Professor at UNICATT Milan, Italy and Haxhi Zeka University Peja, Kosovo.

Inna Romānova is Professor of Finance and the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Business, Management, and Economics at the University of Latvia, the Director of the Scientific Institute of Economics and Management, and the Director of the professional master’s degree program in Financial Economics.

Graţiela Georgiana Noja is Professor of Economics and International Business and the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at the West University of Timișoara, Romania. Gratiela is also a Doctoral Adviser in Economics and member of the Scientific Steering Committee of the East European Center for Research in Economics and Business.

Tomasz Dorożyński is a Professor in the Department of International Trade, Institute of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Łódź, Poland. He is a member of several organisations with researchers in international economics and business (e.g., AIB, AIB-CEE, EIBA, EAMSA) and research groups (e.g. Management Geography, Chambers of Commerce). He is a Visiting Scholar at Vilnius Tech.