Lejla Dragnic is a CPU Economic Advisor. She has over 30 years of experience in research, management and consulting in a wide range of applied economics such as macro-economic policies, development and reconstruction strategies, international economic relations, market reforms and private sector development. Since 1996 she has worked as a senior adviser, program manager and consultant in areas of privatization and SME development on regional and national projects supported by various organizations (USAID/Price Waterhouse Coopers, World Bank/IFC, EC, SDC, GTZ, ADA, SIDA). More recent professional experience includes assessment of the macro-economic conditions and budgetary processes in BiH; assessment of the value chain constrains for improving selected sectors’ competitiveness in BiH; labor market policies, evaluation of various internationally supported projects in the field of private sector and SME development. Lejla has a Master of Science in Economics.
Goran Dostic is a CPU Senior Researcher and Economic Policy Advisor. He has twelve years of professional experience in design, drafting, implementation and advocacy of public policies in the area of development strategy, public finances, fiscal policy, European integrations, human capacity development, and improvement of the public administration. Goran’s work experience includes consulting and research positions in the World Bank as a consultant within the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper project in BiH; Research Associate with UNDP; Consultant for the project of the local property tax administration for GTZ; Advisor for the DFID project of strengthening the public finance management in BiH and consultant for the European Commission project of improving the local institutions capacities in the sphere of econometrics and statistics. Goran has also several years of experience in Canada as financial analyst in the private sector. He is the author of various research publications and papers. Goran has a PhD Degree in Economics.
Asja Cengic-Kasumovic is External Associate Communication Consultant with fifteen years of experience in nongovernmental sector and international community. She started her cooperation with the Centre in June 2012 planning and implementing outreach and media activities for the “Road to Recovery” high level conference, and she held CPU Executive Director position until end of May 2014. Asja is also Independent Communications Consultant. Previously she worked for more than five years as Communications Analyst and Spokesperson of the United Nations Development Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Before she joined UNDP, she worked as Head of PR Communications Department at the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council. Cengic has also worked as PR-Manager/Spokesperson for the Sarajevo Film Festival and as Regional PR/Information officer at the Office of the High Representative. She holds a Bachelor in Business Administration, completed at the Anglo-American University in Prague and M.A. in Communications at University Singidunum, Belgrade.
Amra Hasagić was working as Researcher at the Centre for Policy and Governance. She wrote policy papers and conducted researches on projects underway. She is external associate at the moment. She holds BSc degree with honors in Economics from Sarajevo School of Science and Science and Technology (SSST) and from the University of Buckingham. She was engaged on various projects, some of which are internships at the Hayek Institute in Vienna, in the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office. She volunteered at Sarajevo Business Forum from its first year and was working as the teaching and Dean’s assistant at SSST. As a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship holder she is doing master studies in Agricultural Economics at the University of Hohenheim in Germany.
The raw materials market has seen significant changes in recent years, driven by shifts in global demand, technological advances, and geopolitical factors. These changes have a profound impact on the growth of demand and prices of key critical raw materials (lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel, and rare earth materials) needed by the fast-growing renewable energy, consumer electronics, and automotive industries.
DetailsCarbon (CO2) pricing is a fiscal instrument that governments use to encourage companies and other emitters to switch to renewable energy sources and adopt new technologies to reduce emissions, to achieve national and international climate goals. There are two main types of carbon pricing: emissions trading systems (ETS) and CO2 taxes. The CO2 tax directly determines the price of CO2 emissions, while the ETS sets the upper limit of CO2 emissions in certain sectors, requiring a permit for each ton of CO2 emitted. The choice of a combination of instruments and modalities for charging carbon emissions depends on political goals and circumstances and is only one of the necessary instruments for achieving national and international climate goals. CO2 price helps shift the burden of damage onto those who are responsible for it and who can reduce it.
DetailsUse of natural materials has been growing continuously in the world. With the current growth rates and population increase rates, global demand will in 2050 require resources of three planets like ours. Current increase in demand, limited supply of certain resources and disrupted supply chain cause a significant increase in prices and threaten to give rise to a new economic crisis, demonstrating the fact that the current models of the use of resources are far from being sustainable, while they may potentially cause instability.
DetailsBusiness organizations approaches to circular economy are based on the concept of circular business model that “articulates the logic of how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value to its broader range of stakeholders while minimizing ecological and social costs.”
DetailsThe last time the minimum wage was determined in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was in 2016, and there is no doubt that it needs to be raised. However, an excessive and sudden increase may lead to undesired consequences and jeopardize the very groups of workers this help is intended for. Inter alia, it may lead to the rise in youth and women unemployment, threaten the competitiveness of private sector and lead to significant rise in wages in public companies, even in cases of workers who currently earn significantly above the minimum wage. Therefore, the key question is how to strike a balance between real needs and unrealistic demands and this analysis is aimed at offering several guidelines to that effect.
DetailsWe have explored informal markets in the four South-East Europe economies, investigated drivers for engaging in informal activities and provided policy recommendations for reducing the informal sector. The study comprises findings of both primary and secondary research. Primary research included a quantitative survey on a representative sample of around 4 thousand respondents across four countries.
DetailsCPU advocates for the broader debate about this topic, which is rather limited today, to support the processes and related decisions. This debate should bring closer divided opinions about ways to maximize contributions of those important assets to the economy and the society as whole. More precisely, we should look into market developments, telecoms’ performances, and business models to address following questions: How to improve the quality and affordability of services; What is an optimal / expected contribution of telecoms to productivity gains and digital economy development?; What are expected financial and fiscal implications/benefits to the economy and citizens of telecom operations in FBiH?; What are necessary deregulations to support effective sector development?
DetailsCOVID-19 crisis has had a tremendous economic impact in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH). It is estimated that the country will enter a recession of 5%, which implies a number of negative economic indicators – decrease in exports, rise of unemployment and possible rise of interest rates, budget instability and the like. Of particular concern is the rise of unemployment and decrease in BH diaspora support, which is very important for the BH economy. COVID-19 has mainly endangered the service sector, i.e. all businesses that depend on the so-called "moment of truth" – the direct contact with customers. There are many micro-enterprises and crafts operating within the service sector, while freelancers are mainly exposed to the crisis due to the decrease in global demand for their services (exports).
DetailsThe impact of socio-economic factors on student achievements during their education and long-term educational outcomes are one of the challenges that have so far passed under the radar of educational policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In numerous reform efforts to improve the education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a strategy that would address the importance of socio-economic opportunities in the education of individuals was missing, which implies that this issue is not addressed at the educational practices level.
DetailsThe analysis shows research on how the banking sector in B&H can improve economic growth, and how sector reforms contained in the Extended Fund Facility program with IMF can influence on credit expansion and the stability of the financial sector.
DetailsNo matter the destiny of the IMF arrangement, for the final finding of the solution when it comes to BH Telecom, it is necessary to conduct the due diligence analysis and to agree upon a plan of future work of BH Telecom as soon as possible.
DetailsBosnia and Herzegovina urgently needs an improvement of business climate and one of the key tools to accomplish this goal is the introduction of electronic services.
DetailsThis analysis suggests few steps aiming to halt the decrease of the average class size in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and points out the necessity of shifting the focus on teachers' competencies and qualities as a precondition for better education.
DetailsThe analysis of 'The Advantages of TIMSS Introduction into BiH Educational System' contains conclusions and recommendations for its implementation and suggests that regular conduction of TIMSS is necessary, since this kind of international testing enables continuous monitoring and comparison with other systems and provides a clear picture on what has to be done.
DetailsThe conference is organized by Centre for Policy and Governance (CPU), supported by Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) US. Structured in two panels, this conference brings together decision makers, representatives of the telecom industry and international expertise.
read moreread more