It is time....

Welcome to Vrijeme je.com (It is time), bilingual English and Croatian policy portal. This is a project supported by the World Academy of Art and Science and the Croatian Club of Rome Association. Presented texts are not literal translations and links differ. The text in Croatian is aimed at the situation in Croatia. The text in English is not focussed on any country in particular, but occasional references are made to South East European countries.

Ivo Slaus's picture

Invitation

Dear Colleagues, dear all,

The economic crisis which today shakes the whole world is the greatest challenge facing the globe and each individual state. We are facing a global crisis - economic, energy, ecological, moral and psycho-social aggravated by climate change and demographic transition. No country - and in particular not our country can isolate itself from this global crisis. Moreover, the crisis in some countries probably started even earlier. Some countries are enormously indebted, their products and exports are significantly less than imports and consumption, most of their riches have been sold, the workforce is underemployed (Poland, Croatia and Serbia have very lo employment rate, about 50-58%) and the ratio between pensioners and workers is unsustainable (typically less than 1 vs. 2.5). The majority of socio-economic indicators classify many South East European countries near the bottom of European countries and sometimes even worse than that.

Ivo Slaus's picture

CRISIS 21 - Civilization's Crisis in the 21st Century

by: John Scales Avery
H.C. Orsted Institute
University of Copenhagen

 

This book describes the links between the serious problems that are facing the world today - threats to the environment, growing population coupled with vanishing resources, intolerable economic inequality and the threat of nuclear war - and it proposes holistic solutions.

Ivo Slaus's picture

CoR - Growth and Climate

 

TO MASTER THE THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WE HAVE TO
REDEFINE AND REORIENT ECONOMIC GROWTH

 

We are heading into a perfect storm of crises which are so intimately connected that they cannot be resolved separately. Climate change is only one of an array of emerging challenges: The ecosystems on which we absolutely depend are being degraded at an alarming rate; humanity is grossly overusing the resources of the planet; rising stress on water and productive land, compounded by the effects of climate change, is reducing food security; levels of hunger, poverty and deprivation are again increasing; the global economic and financial systems have proved to be unstable and inequitable; the division between rich and poor is widening; millions cannot find employment; and, in this complex and dangerous situation, it is estimated that an additional 2.3 billion people will arrive on this planet by 2050. Humanity is in the midst of a systemic crisis. The underlying root causes are our current concepts of growth, development and globalization, which must be changed.
Editorial board's picture

Encyclical letter «Caritas in Veritate»

 

Encyclical letter «Caritas in Veritate» of the supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI given in Rome on June 29, 2009 addresses social teaching of the Church and it is - particularly Chapters:          II Human Development in Our Time, III Fraternity, Economic Development and Civil Society, and IV Development of People, Rights and Duties, The Environment - very relevant for our discussion about the current crisis.
  

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/document

Vladimir Cvijanovic's picture

Introduction to the lecture of professor Andrea Fumagalli on global economic crisis and possibility of a new deal

Listen to an integral version of lecture by professor Andrea Fumagalli, who gave talk at June 11 at net.klub MAMA in Zagreb (http://boo.mi2.hr/~tom/Andrea_Fumagalli_Global_Economic_Crisis.mp3).
We believe that Fumagalli's lecture will be of interest to a wide audience of economists, political scientists, sociologists and other social scientists, as well as to activists. In the first part of the lecture Fumagalli provides...

Paul Stubbs's picture

Europeanization, development of Croatian social model and social cohesion

18.06.2009 14:00
19.06.2009 18:00
Europe/Zagreb

Conference
„Europeanization, development of Croatian social model and social cohesion”
Zagreb, 18-19. June 2009.
 
 
Paul Stubbs's picture

THE SOCIAL IMPACTS OF THE CRISIS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS

10 statements
 
Paul Stubbs, 23.04.2009.
1. The crisis may represent a paradox in terms of the end of neo-liberal globalization AND the beginning of neo-liberal restructuring in the Western Balkans.

Editorial board's picture

Call for Global Democratic Oversight of International Financial and Economic Institutions

 
Three days prior to the gathering of world leaders in London to address the global financial crisis, politicians, academics and representatives of civil society organizations from 61 countries have issued a joint statement calling for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. The proposal is in line with similar recommendations already passed by the European Parliament, the Pan-African Parliament, the Latin-American Parliament and the Senate of Argentina.
 

Editorial board's picture

Monetary and Financial System Reform Debate

As we believe that this crisis cannot be solved without reforming the monetary and regulating the financial system, this page is to be updated with the latest developements in theese fields, so feel free to post any valuable resources below. Looking forward to G20 summit in London, we bring you reading that we find interesting.
In line with our "holistic approach", we present four documents calling for International Finacial System reform. First two were written for G20 Washington summit that took place in November 2008, whist the third is six years older, but is relevant as it reflects official G24 standpoints. Last document is something that we found accidentaly, a new formulation of an old Kenyes idea, introduction of world reserve currency - called Terra International Monetary Union.
We also recommend a book titled: The Future of Money - Creating New Wealth, Work and a Wiser World , by WAAS member Bernard Lietaer.

Ivo Slaus's picture

Crisis – Seven Questions In Search Of Answers

Crisis – Seven Questions In Search Of Answers
Case study - Croatia
 
 
The Government of the Republic of Croatia recently (February 26, 2009) announced its «Antirecession measures» finally admitting that Croatia is facing recession. Leading political parties have given their proposals and criticisms, as well as the Institute of Economics, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, The Croatian Employers Association, the Association of Croatian Bankers, and others. Somewhat earlier the Government has established its Economic Council. Economists speak and write about this economic crisis.

Paul Stubbs's picture

Falling Behind Again? - Southeast Europe and the Global Crisis

By Helenic Foundation for European and Foregin Policy - an interesting analysis form Dr. Jens Bastian - "Falling Behind Again? - Southeast Europe and the Global Crisis"
Introduction:
As the global crisis deepens, the economic outlook for the region of southeast Europe darkens. The crisis resistance of countries in the region has not been tested before on such a scale. Furthermore, their institutional arrangements remain distinctly fragile. Confronting the crises will require bold and coordinated policy initiatives, sustained international support and the recognition of its social implications.

Stella Fatovic-Ferencic's picture

Inequality, Poverty, and Material Deprivation in New and Old Members of European Union

From September 2007 issue of Croatian Medical Journal, we bring you an article Inequality, Poverty, and Material Deprivation in New and Old Members of European Union, by Teo Matković, Zoran Šućur and Siniša Zrinščak.

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