Professional paper
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN CAPITAL AND LABOR MARKET COMPETITIVENESS IN THE EU CANDIDATE COUNTRIES AND SELECTED EU MEMBERS
Vesna Andrijević Matovac
; Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb
Vlatka Bilas
orcid.org/0000-0002-9021-6651
; Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb
Sanja Franc
orcid.org/0000-0001-8787-4429
; Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb
Abstract
Human capital is considered to be an important factor of economic growth and development, as well as one of the sources of competitive advantages. In order to attain highly skilled human capital, countries should improve their labor market competitiveness and increase investments in education, science and technology. This
paper analyzes the role and the significance of human capital. Furthermore, it researches motives, effects and trends of labor migration in Europe, with special emphasis on highly qualified labor migration i.e. brain drain phenomenon. Since competitive and stable labor market is important condition for joining the EU, the purpose of the analysis was to see what level of convergence have the EU candidates reached so far. For that reason, a comparative analysis of certain labor market characteristics in Croatia, FYR of Macedonia and Turkey (EU candidate countries) and selected EU countries was made.
Keywords
human capital; brain drain; labor market; labor migration; EU
Hrčak ID:
62319
URI
Publication date:
17.12.2010.
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