SPB Newsfeed: Macroeconomists from the Region Trained in Policy Analysis
In January 2014, the CEF organized a five-day Macroeconomic Policy Analysis course as part of its Strategic Planning and Budgeting (SPB) project that is funded by the European Union. The objective of the training course was to strengthen participants’ expertise in assessing country’s macroeconomic situation and evaluating economic policies, and thus strengthen their skills in contributing to drafting various European Commission surveillance reports, for example the Economic and Fiscal Programme or the Pre-Accession Economic Programme.
The training activity provided an overview of diagnostic tools and techniques to assess the stance of fiscal and monetary policy and to explore the impact of these policies on the economy. It also addressed medium-term prospects, such as the sustainability of public debt, exchange rate assessment, and potential vulnerabilities in the financial sector, and contributed to their improved understanding.
The course was delivered by three experts of the Joint Vienna Institute (JVI) in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund. Training included a number of well-received lectures and hands-on exercises and simulations, using real macroeconomic figures, which were supported by an extensive set of background materials.
The Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA) hosted the course, which attracted participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey.
The participants acknowledged the relevance of the course for their work and the success of its delivery.
The course showcased effective collaboration between three key training institutions – the CEF, the JVI and ReSPA – that joined their efforts in support of capacity development of regional experts with a goal to strengthen economic governance in South East Europe.
