The Significance of Borders in Georgia-UE Trade Relations

Based on the analysis of trade and policy reforms undertaken towards greater facilitation of trade and harmonization of rules, the paper evaluates the "thickness" of borders at the current stage of Georgia-EU cooperation. The study is focused on the trade component of the formal cooperation agreements between Georgia and EU. Trade flows as well as policy reforms are analyzed in order to evaluate how the significance of borders has changed. It reviews the steps taken by both parties to overcome national borders and create larger economic space for tradeArtykuł przedstawia ocenę szczelności granic na aktualnym etapie współpracy między Gruzją a WE przygotowaną w oparciu o analizę handlu i reform polityki handlowej. Przedstawione rozważania skupiają się na strumieniach handlu i polityce handlowej. Słowa kluczowe: handel między Gruzją a WE, granice, bariery handlow

B/ORDERS AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION PREFERENCES: THE CASE OF GEORGIA

B/orders are multidimensional phenomena studied by various social disciplines. In the present paper b/orders are dealt with in cross-country economic cooperation context. Post-Soviet space is one of the most interesting cases for b/order studies, because of the complex re-territorialization processes that have taken place there since 1990s along with deep economic and political transformations. In Georgia b/ordering processes are affected by country-specific features (such as small size, geopolitical characteristics) and general region-wide forces (its strong European integration aspirations, Russia’s dominant role in the region). The analysis of the formal institutional basis for Georgia’s cooperation with these important economic partners and the dynamics of economic activities (cross-border flows of goods and production factors) enable to assess the role of b/orders, recent developments in b/ordering and their economic consequences. The research shows that in Georgia b/orders are under the influence of alternative external economic integration forces (from EU and Russia) and the process of internalization of the external influences by the private agents and the government, as well as their readiness, involvement and cooperation during b/order related reforms

Innovation policy alternatives: lessons from the European countries

Generally, there can be several alternatives of innovation policy. Pro-market ideology fully supports for market forces and innovation development lead by the market without any public intervention. However, through the history of technological development of several advanced countries radical shifts and changes took place with the active involvement of public sector in these processes. This evidence suggests that the innovation policy can have an active supportive role in the development of private initiatives with such common instruments as public financing of R&D activities, public procurements of technologies, etc. Another alternative is the traditional approach to innovation policy, which involves the adjustment of market failures. This approach has been often criticized recently, for example, by Adquist (5, 2008), as innovations are of evolutionary character and it is not always possible to define what is the optimal condition and where the market fails. Many researchers and policy makers support for the systemic approach in innovation policy. Within this alternative identification of systemic problems and their resolution is based on the empirical analyses and comparison of different innovation systems with each other

Strategies for sustainable socio-economic development and mechanisms their implementation in the global dimension

The authors of the book have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to effectively use modern approaches to developing and implementation strategies of sustainable socio-economic development in order to increase efficiency and competitiveness of economic entities. Basic research focuses on economic diagnostics of socio-economic potential and financial results of economic entities, transition period in the economy of individual countries and ensuring their competitiveness, assessment of educational processes and knowledge management. The research results have been implemented in the different models and strategies of supply and logistics management, development of non-profit organizations, competitiveness of tourism and transport, financing strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises, cross-border cooperation. The results of the study can be used in decision-making at the level the economic entities in different areas of activity and organizational-legal forms of ownership, ministries and departments that promote of development the economic entities on the basis of models and strategies for sustainable socio-economic development. The results can also be used by students and young scientists in modern concepts and mechanisms for management of sustainable socio-economic development of economic entities in the condition of global economic transformations and challenges