Търговска отвореност на българската икономика: измерване и сравнение с останалите държави от Централна и Източна Европа
Trade 0penness of the Bulgarian Economy: Measurement and Comparison with Other Central and Eastern European Countries

Author(s): Lidia Kabatliyska-Andonova
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Economy, National Economy, Business Economy / Management, Economic policy, International relations/trade, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: trade openness; trade volume; trade liberalization; trade restrictions; CEE countries
Summary/Abstract: The paper analyses the trade openness of the Bulgarian economy and its dynamics in the period from 2000 to 2023. This is done using a system of openness indicators that reveal its various characteristics and are divided into two main groups - based on trade volumes and based on the removal of trade restrictions. More specifically, indicators based on trade volume are constructed, referring to the ratios of foreign trade exchange, exports and imports to GDP, and those that measure the country's share in world trade. As for trade liberalization, it is assessed using the average tariff rate, the ratio of import duties and the ratio of taxes to total import revenue, and the trade freedom index. The behaviour of the various measures of openness over time is tracked and their specifics are highlighted in the periods before and after the country's membership in the European Union. Emphasis is placed on the similarities and differences between the various metrics and the main domestic and international factors for their dynamics are commented on. The data for Bulgaria are compared with the data for the other CEE countries, which are current members of the EU and are part of the former socialist bloc. This makes it possible to outline the similarities and differences in the trade openness of the Bulgarian economy compared to the other ten countries, as well as to highlight the country's relative position among the countries of the region. The obtained results are interpreted from the point of view of the impact of openness on economic growth and macroeconomic stability.

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