As part of the cycle of lectures by new researchers at the Institute of Social Sciences, Ivan Nikolić, a Senior Research Associate from the Centre for Economic Research, held a lecture on December 5, 2023 in the Great Hall of the Institute of Social Sciences on the topic „The plausibility of a medium-term acceleration of economic activity in Serbia ”.
Successful medium-term growth depends on a country’s ability to capitalize on its strengths and address challenges through coordinated policies and reforms. In this sense, Ivan Nikolić’s lecture included an analysis of the key guidelines of the current economic policy and sources of growth of the gross domestic product, according to the production approach and from the expenditure side.
The growth of industry, construction and transport in the gross domestic product of the last decade is especially highlighted, while traditional sectors such as agriculture and energy are continuously stagnating. The effects of the recent investment rating and the major revision of the national accounts on the country’s future economic policy will be considered. During the lecture, the author specifically referred to the end of the cycle of increasing reference interest rates and tightening of monetary conditions, as well as broader external risks and restrictions related to economic activity in the euro zone, our most important trading partner.
It was pointed out that among the 25 most successful companies in Serbia, only two are entirely state-owned, while the remaining companies are supported by foreign capital, mainly from Germany, the USA, Russia and China. In this context, the role and importance of Chinese investments in the previous decade was especially considered, having in mind that the People’s Republic of China is the largest investor in Serbia compared to other countries in Southeast Europe. During the discussion, the influence and consequences of foreign investments on the national socio-economic status were discussed.
