Naujųjų Europos sąjungos valstybių makroekonominių rodiklių pokyčiai integruotoje rinkoje

LTPasaulio ekonomikos išsivystymo lygis ir vis labiau intensyvėjanti globalizacijos procesų skatinama ekonominė integracija meta iššūkį valstybėms padidinti konkurencinį pranašumą pasaulinėje rinkoje. Į ES 2004 m. įstojus 10 naujų valstybių, natūraliai kyla klausimai, kuo šių šalių ūkiai yra ir gali būti naudingi visos ES mastu, kiek šalių ekonomika atsilieka nuo išsivysčiusių ES šalių lygio, kaip šalys geba reguliuoti savo ekonominę politiką, ar galima joms padėti gaunant abipusės ekonominės naudos. Atlikus pagrindinių makroekonominių rodiklių analizę, galima išsamiau išnagrinėti šalių ekonominę situaciją, rezultatus ir perspektyvas. Tokie tyrimo rezultatai tampa aktualūs senesnėms ES narėms, nes analizės informacija gali padėti įvertinti bendradarbiavimo, investavimo ir kitokios ekonominės plėtros galimybes šiose šalyse. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Naujosios ES šalys; Makroekonominiai rodikliai; Integruota rinka; Konkurencingumas; New EU countries; Macroeconomic indicators; Integrated market competitiveness.

ENThe 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.The main reasons for growing inflation rate are supposed to be increased fuel prices all over the world, small deposit interests, and increased mobility of labour force. Lithuania and Poland have used advantages of EU membership the best, solving problems of labour market. Unemployment level in these countries decreased the most during the researched period. Unemployment level decrease was total and average in all new EU members except Hungary. It was influenced by growth of economy, which was quite slow in some countries and a little bit faster in others. Opportunities of new labour markets, increase of emigration also had an impact. Unemployment level had been changing the least in Malta and Cyprus during the researched period. Only two new EU countries (Malta and Slovenia) had positive trade balance. Import exceeded export in all other eight countries and as a result their trade balances were negative. Countries with bigger population and area were characterized by bigger import and export. Exports of Poland and Hungary were the biggest, whereas those of Cyprus and Malta were the lowest. Import was increasing the most in Latvia, Slovakia and Lithuania. Analysis of trade balance revealed that positive trade balance is a result of country's capability to compete in foreign markets. Still and all, the most competitive was Malta, which population and area are the smallest. Total and average FDI were increasing in Lithuania, Latvia, Cyprus and Hungary. The main reasons were growth of economy, development of investment atmosphere and increase of employment level. In 2003 most FDI were received by Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. In 2007, most FDI were attracted by Slovakia, Poland and Czech Republic. The lowest FDI in the Baltic States shows that growth of economy was based on growing consumption expenditures.New EU countries used possibilities of foreign markets in decreasing unemployment level and inducing growth of economy. Despite the largest economic potential, the Baltic States faced increasing inflation and competitive disability in foreign trade. When solving these problems, the Baltic States should promote investment, use fiscal tools, keep dialogue with society forming rational expectations, decrease business taxes. [From the publication]