Kosovo - Unlocking Growth Potential : Strategies, Policies, Actions - 
A Country Economic Memorandum

World Bank

dc.creator	World Bank
dc.date	2012-03-19T10:23:04Z
dc.date	2012-03-19T10:23:04Z
dc.date	2010-04-29
dc.date.accessioned	2023-02-17T20:42:57Z
dc.date.available	2023-02-17T20:42:57Z
dc.identifier	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000333038_20100527043201
dc.identifier	http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2859
dc.identifier.uri	http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/243216
dc.description	Kosovo's economic growth in the past decade has been solid, yet, with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of 1,760, the country remains one of the poorest in Europe. The end of the conflict, output was growing at double-digit rates, driven by the donor-funded reconstruction efforts. Since 2005, annual growth has decelerated to below 5 percent. However, the other countries in Southeast Europe have been growing faster, so the income gap has widened. Kosovo's economy would need to more than double its growth rate to 10 percent per annum over the next decade to reach Albania's income level (assuming Albania's economy continues to grow at 5.5 percent annually over this period). To reach Montenegro's current GDP per capita level of about 5,700, the economy would have to grow at 12 percent per annum for an entire decade. At the same time, Kosovo has the weakest employment track record in Europe: the unemployment rate has reached 48 percent and the employment rate is extremely low (26 percent). Consequently, poverty remains persistent and widespread (though shallow) with 45 percent of the population estimated to consume less than the national poverty line, while 17 percent are extremely poor. Much of the economic progress in the recent period has been based on donor aid and remittances, which cannot be the foundation of a sustainable economic strategy. Kosovo has the potential to shift toward faster, private sector led growth. Kosovo's products have free market access to the European Union (EU) and Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) countries, so exports could become an important pillar of growth. Unleashing that potential will involve bringing on line three production factors that are now sitting partially idle: labor, land, and energy and minerals. The encouraging news is that unleashing this potential is within the country's own grasp, because most of the current obstacles are of a policy nature. However, simultaneous action will be required on several policy fronts.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	World Bank
dc.rights	CC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.rights	World Bank
dc.subject	ACCESS TO INFORMATION
dc.subject	ACCOUNTING
dc.subject	ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
dc.subject	AGRICULTURE
dc.subject	ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
dc.subject	ARABLE LAND
dc.subject	BALANCE OF PAYMENTS
dc.subject	BANKING SECTOR
dc.subject	BENEFIT ANALYSIS
dc.subject	BUDGET SURPLUS
dc.subject	BUSINESS CLIMATE
dc.subject	BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
dc.subject	BUSINESS INVESTMENT
dc.subject	BUSINESS REGULATIONS
dc.subject	CADASTRE
dc.subject	CAPITAL BASE
dc.subject	CAPITAL FORMATION
dc.subject	CAPITAL INVESTMENT
dc.subject	CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
dc.subject	CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
dc.subject	COMMODITY
dc.subject	COMMODITY PRICES
dc.subject	COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE
dc.subject	COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES
dc.subject	COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
dc.subject	COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
dc.subject	CONSUMERS
dc.subject	CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
dc.subject	CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT
dc.subject	CPI
dc.subject	CREDITORS
dc.subject	CURRENCY
dc.subject	CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICITS
dc.subject	DEBT
dc.subject	DEBT SERVICE
dc.subject	DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS
dc.subject	DECENTRALIZATION
dc.subject	DEFICITS
dc.subject	DEPOSIT
dc.subject	DEPOSITS
dc.subject	DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT
dc.subject	DOMESTIC DEBT
dc.subject	ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
dc.subject	ECONOMIC BOOM
dc.subject	ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	ECONOMIC GROWTH
dc.subject	ECONOMIC IMPACT
dc.subject	ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS
dc.subject	ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
dc.subject	ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
dc.subject	ECONOMIC PROGRESS
dc.subject	ELECTRICITY GENERATION
dc.subject	ENTERPRISE PERFORMANCE
dc.subject	ENVIRONMENTAL
dc.subject	EQUIPMENT
dc.subject	EXCHANGE RATE
dc.subject	EXPENDITURE
dc.subject	EXPENDITURES
dc.subject	EXPLOITATION
dc.subject	EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS
dc.subject	EXPORT GROWTH
dc.subject	EXPORT PERFORMANCE
dc.subject	EXPORT SHARE
dc.subject	EXPORTERS
dc.subject	EXPORTS
dc.subject	EXTERNAL BORROWING
dc.subject	EXTERNAL FINANCE
dc.subject	EXTERNAL TRADE
dc.subject	FARMS
dc.subject	FINANCIAL CRISIS
dc.subject	FINANCIAL RESOURCES
dc.subject	FINANCIAL SECTOR
dc.subject	FINANCIAL SUPPORT
dc.subject	FISCAL POLICIES
dc.subject	FISCAL POLICY
dc.subject	FISHING
dc.subject	FIXED CAPITAL
dc.subject	FOREIGN CAPITAL
dc.subject	FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
dc.subject	FOREIGN FIRMS
dc.subject	FOREIGN INVESTMENT
dc.subject	FOREIGN INVESTOR
dc.subject	FOREIGN INVESTORS
dc.subject	FOREIGN MARKETS
dc.subject	FORESTRY
dc.subject	FREE TRADE
dc.subject	FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
dc.subject	GDP
dc.subject	GDP PER CAPITA
dc.subject	GINI COEFFICIENT
dc.subject	GLOBAL TRADE
dc.subject	GOVERNMENT BUDGET
dc.subject	GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES
dc.subject	GOVERNMENT REVENUE
dc.subject	GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
dc.subject	GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION
dc.subject	GROWTH POTENTIAL
dc.subject	GROWTH RATE
dc.subject	HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT
dc.subject	HOME COUNTRY
dc.subject	HUMAN CAPITAL
dc.subject	HUMAN RESOURCES
dc.subject	INCOME GROUPS
dc.subject	INCOME LEVEL
dc.subject	INCOME LEVELS
dc.subject	INCOME TAX
dc.subject	INDEBTEDNESS
dc.subject	INDUSTRIALIZATION
dc.subject	INEFFICIENCY
dc.subject	INFLATION
dc.subject	INFLATION RATE
dc.subject	INFORMATION SYSTEM
dc.subject	INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
dc.subject	INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY
dc.subject	INSTRUMENT
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL BANK
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
dc.subject	INVESTING
dc.subject	INVESTMENT CLIMATE
dc.subject	INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
dc.subject	INVESTMENT RATE
dc.subject	INVESTMENT RATES
dc.subject	LABOR COSTS
dc.subject	LABOR FORCE
dc.subject	LABOR MARKET
dc.subject	LAND OWNERSHIP
dc.subject	LAND PARCELS
dc.subject	LAND POLICIES
dc.subject	LAND PRIVATIZATION
dc.subject	LAND USE
dc.subject	LANDOWNERS
dc.subject	LENDER
dc.subject	LENDER OF LAST RESORT
dc.subject	LOAN
dc.subject	LOCAL BANK
dc.subject	LONG-TERM DEBT
dc.subject	MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
dc.subject	MACROECONOMIC STABILITY
dc.subject	MARKET ACCESS
dc.subject	MARKET DEMAND
dc.subject	MARKET INFORMATION
dc.subject	MARKET PERFORMANCE
dc.subject	METALS
dc.subject	MINES
dc.subject	MINIMUM CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
dc.subject	MONETARY FUND
dc.subject	MONETARY INSTRUMENTS
dc.subject	NATURAL RESOURCES
dc.subject	NONPAYMENT
dc.subject	NONPERFORMING LOANS
dc.subject	OIL
dc.subject	OIL PRICES
dc.subject	PENSION
dc.subject	PERSONAL INCOME
dc.subject	POLICY MAKERS
dc.subject	POLITICAL RISK
dc.subject	POLITICAL RISKS
dc.subject	POLITICAL STABILITY
dc.subject	PORTFOLIO
dc.subject	PORTFOLIO INVESTMENT
dc.subject	POTENTIAL INVESTORS
dc.subject	POWER OUTAGES
dc.subject	PRIVATE CONSUMPTION
dc.subject	PRIVATE CONSUMPTION DEMAND
dc.subject	PRIVATE INVESTMENT
dc.subject	PRIVATE INVESTMENTS
dc.subject	PRIVATE INVESTORS
dc.subject	PRIVATE SECTOR GROWTH
dc.subject	PRODUCTION OUTPUT
dc.subject	PRODUCTIVE INVESTMENT
dc.subject	PRODUCTIVITY
dc.subject	PROPERTY RIGHTS
dc.subject	PUBLIC DEBT
dc.subject	PUBLIC DEBT STOCK
dc.subject	PUBLIC FUNDS
dc.subject	PUBLIC GOOD
dc.subject	PUBLIC INVESTMENT
dc.subject	PUBLIC POLICIES
dc.subject	PUBLIC SAVINGS
dc.subject	PUBLIC SPENDING
dc.subject	PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
dc.subject	RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH
dc.subject	REAL ESTATE
dc.subject	REGULATORY BARRIERS
dc.subject	REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
dc.subject	REGULATORY REGIME
dc.subject	REMITTANCE
dc.subject	REMITTANCES
dc.subject	RETURN
dc.subject	RETURNS
dc.subject	RISK MANAGEMENT
dc.subject	RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
dc.subject	RULE OF LAW
dc.subject	SAFETY NET
dc.subject	SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
dc.subject	TAX
dc.subject	TAX COLLECTION
dc.subject	TAX RATES
dc.subject	TAX REVENUE
dc.subject	TAX SYSTEM
dc.subject	TELECOMMUNICATIONS
dc.subject	TOTAL OUTPUT
dc.subject	TOTAL REVENUE
dc.subject	TRACK RECORD
dc.subject	TRADE CREDITS
dc.subject	TRADE DEFICIT
dc.subject	TRADE NEGOTIATIONS
dc.subject	TRADE SECTOR
dc.subject	TRADING
dc.subject	TRANSITION COUNTRIES
dc.subject	TRANSPARENCY
dc.subject	UNEMPLOYMENT
dc.subject	UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
dc.subject	VALUATION
dc.subject	VALUE ADDED
dc.subject	VOLATILITY
dc.subject	WAGES
dc.subject	WORLD TRADE
dc.subject	WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
dc.subject	WTO
dc.title	Kosovo - Unlocking Growth Potential : Strategies, Policies, Actions - A Country Economic Memorandum
dc.type	Economic & Sector Work :: Country Economic Memorandum
dc.coverage	Europe and Central Asia
dc.coverage	Kosovo