The human and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has provoked sharp adjustment in the policy priorities of countries in Central and South Eastern Europe. The crisis laid bare underlying strengths and weaknesses, and the response has involved unprecedented government intervention and stimulus measures. There is a sense of emerging new constellations of interests, which may mean that countries cannot go back to the status quo ante.
The webinar will discuss the main features of policy adjustments in selected countries of the region, and how and why developments differ across those countries. Looking forward, a fundamental question is whether these changes will lead to a permanent reorientation—for instance, in the allocation of government spending, the size of government, and government’s role in the financial sector. A related issue is what post-COVID policy will mean for economic integration of the region.