Reducing regional disparities for inclusive growth in Bulgaria

Abstract

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ECO/WKP(2021)14 Unclassified English -Or. English ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT REDUCING REGIONAL DISPARITIES FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN BULGARIA ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT WORKING PAPERS No. 1663 By Mikkel Hermansen OECD Working Papers should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its member countries. The opinions expressed and arguments employed are those of the author(s).

Tourism Persistence in the Southeastern European Countries: The Impact of COVID-19

“…Bulgaria generally fared better during the pandemic (Hermansen, 2021), but there is still a need to find opportunities for extending the season and overcoming the decline of journeys and visits to mountain resorts (Velkova & Dimitrova, 2021). Since the beginning of the pandemic, the European Union has also adopted several support measures for the SEE countries with the purpose of alleviating the economic impact of the pandemic.…”

Regional and Ethnic Disparities of School-to-Work Transitions in Bulgaria

“…The latter region, together with certain districts in northeast and southern Bulgaria, has the lowest degree of urbanisation, the highest share of elderly people in the population, and the largest population decline due to emigration [32]. These areas cover 10 out of the 28 Bulgarian districts that have lost at least 20% of their population over the last two decades [33]. By contrast, the southwest region, which covers Sofia (the capital) as well as the districts of Blagoevgrad, one of Bulgaria's most significant, economic, educational, and cultural centres beside the capital [28], shows strong urbanisation and agglomeration effects with an increasing population [33].…”

“…These areas cover 10 out of the 28 Bulgarian districts that have lost at least 20% of their population over the last two decades [33]. By contrast, the southwest region, which covers Sofia (the capital) as well as the districts of Blagoevgrad, one of Bulgaria's most significant, economic, educational, and cultural centres beside the capital [28], shows strong urbanisation and agglomeration effects with an increasing population [33]. In addition, the southwest region clearly outperforms the rest of the country as regards the provision of higher education.…”

“…The low official employment rates of Roma-only 22.5% of Roma residents were employed in 2016-do, however, not take employment in the informal sector into account, and many economically active Roma are therefore officially counted as unemployed [18]. Limited economic activity is closely related to material deprivation among Roma, lack of proper housing, poor health conditions, and social exclusion [33].…”