Author Description

This report assesses recent economic developments in central eastern Europe and the Baltic states, south-eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. It updates the assessment provided in the November 2002 report (ISBN 1898802211). Overall, the region achieved a satisfactory economic performance in 2002, showing more resilience that most other emerging markets to the protracted global economic slowdown, heightened uncertainty surrounding the conflict in Iraq and oil price volatility. With an expected pick-up in industrialised country activity, the year 2003 should see a modest increase in growth in the region.