| Abstract [eng] |
The present research work deals with the main macroeconomic indicators of the new European Union countries (EU-10) in 2003–2007 and provides tendencies of economic differentiation change. The theoretical part of the research work defines the key macroeconomic indicators: gross domestic product, inflation level, unemployment level, international trade balance, and foreign direct investment. The analytical part of the research work analyses dynamics of the main macroeconomic indicators of the new EU members in 2003 2007 as well as investigates the factors that had an impact on changes in indicators. In order to evaluate the economic development of the countries, macroeconomic indicators of the new ES countries are compared with average macroeconomic indicators of the old EU members. The analysis concerning industrial power, economy growth and economic development level of the new EU countries showed that four-year period of membership in EU is too short to come to the economic level of the old EU members. Among the leaders remain Cyprus, Slovenia and Malta. Average rates of growth of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the Baltic States exceeded growth rates of other new countries two or three times; Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia remained the economically weakest countries. The analysis of growth rates of GDP per capita suggests a conclusion that the smaller index, the bigger is its growth rate and economic state potential. The highest and largest GDP index is in those countries that have strong specialization: tourism. The smallest inflation rate was in the economically strongest new EU countries, i.e. Malta, Cyprus, Czech Republic and Poland. The Baltic States, the economically weakest countries, although they were characterized by the fastest economic development, faced the problem of growing inflation rate, which became an obstacle for euro introduction in Lithuania and Latvia. [...]. |
