Review article
Development Prospects of the Vukovar-Srijem County in a Situation of Scarce Social Capital
Antun ŠUNDALIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0001-9261-834X
; Ekonomski fakultet, Osijek
Ivana BARKOVIĆ
; Pravni fakultet, Osijek
Abstract
Eastern Croatia, usually regarded as the region consisting of
the two counties of Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem, has
experienced deep changes in recent Croatian history both
socio-economically and socio-culturally. In this paper the authors analyse some of these changes in the Vukovar-Srijem
County. All the suffering of the non-Serbian population in the
Croatian War of Independence, the destruction and
plundering of economic potential and the siege that lasted
until 1997 left deep scars in the post-war years. The slow
economic recovery, feeble demographic renewal (return of
the exiled), unfavourable educational structure of the
population, high unemployment rate, low individual and
social standard, are just some of the indicators of the
transition of the Vukovar region. The socio-economic picture
of Eastern Croatia also includes problems of coexistence,
problems that can be summarised within the concept of
mistrust. The latter is, in terms of economic discourse,
reflected in the non-existence or lack of social capital. This
issue is dealt with in the first part of the paper. The second,
however, deals with the data referring to the demographic
and economic state and changes occurring in the last fifteen
years. In addition to the rise of numerous small enterprises,
an important role is allocated to big economic subjects and
the need for stronger cooperation. The importance of
selective revival of the economy, building of the
infrastructure, as well as investing in the education of young
people and the social standard of this area are the only way
to raising the level of trust and keeping social peace. This is
also a means of helping this region join the more developed
and economically more prosperous parts of Croatia.
Keywords
social capital; economy; unemployment; Vukovar- -Srijem County
Hrčak ID:
22638
URI
Publication date:
30.4.2008.
Visits: 2.779 *