Support and Importance of Integration in Disruptive Times – Comparative Analysis of Serbia and Neighboring Countries during COVID-19 Pandemic Cover Image

Support and Importance of Integration in Disruptive Times – Comparative Analysis of Serbia and Neighboring Countries during COVID-19 Pandemic
Support and Importance of Integration in Disruptive Times – Comparative Analysis of Serbia and Neighboring Countries during COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s): Milica Đokić, Ivana Janjić
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Economy
Published by: Udruženje ekonomista i menadžera Balkana
Keywords: Integration; COVID-19 crisis; GDP growth rate; Foreign trade
Summary/Abstract: Nowadays, in a highly globalized world, the level of economic integration has reached enormous proportions and there is almost no country that is not a part of some economic agreement. The purpose of this paper is to determine if countries that are members of the European Union have been less affected by the COVID-19 crisis and if EU membership helped their economies recover faster compared to those which are not in the EU. In order to conduct such an analysis six countries of the region have been chosen, three of them as EU members and the remaining three as EU membership candidates. Economic activity and foreign trade of Serbia and selected surrounding countries will be analyzed through indicators such as gross domestic product, and import and export trends during the four years, from 2018 to 2022. Furthermore, the research will encompass implemented support programs and measures for overcoming the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.