Projects » Economy and finance

ISSP conducted project “The new role of CSOs in the implementation and monitoring of public policy at the local level”. The project is financed by European Union and implemented in 10 municipalities in Montenegro. The main goal of the project is: Strengthening the role of CSOs and local governments in the implementation and monitoring of Strategic development plans at local level (SDPs). Specific objective of the project are strengthening capacities and involvement of CSOs in implementation and monitoring of SDPs at the local level and increase citizens’ awareness of the importance of SDPs in 10 Montenegrin municipalities.  Expected results of the project are (i) increased inclusion of CSO’s in implementation and monitoring of strategic local plans through increase of CSOs representatives in consultative bodies; (ii) build capacities of local staff in municipalities for monitoring and evaluation through training programs and seminars; (iii) increased capacities of local CSO’s for monitoring of local public policies trough training programs and seminars (iv) established network of local CSOs for implementation and monitoring of SDPs; (v) enhanced and continuous communication between CSOs and local authorities through round tables, newsletter etc; (vi) raised awareness among citizens and CSOs on SDPs and results of their implementation.

For more Information, please visit our website:

http://uom.co.me/issp/

The Global Competitiveness Report 2013-2014 assesses the competitiveness landscape of 144 economies, providing insight into the drivers of their productivity and prosperity. The Report series remains the most comprehensive assessment of national competitiveness worldwide.

Global Competitiveness Report_2013-14

ISSP is 10% project partner in VIBE project, which is done jointly with several project partners from across the region. VIBE addresses the challenge of developing the innovation and entrepreneurship system across the South East Europe by enabling private investment into innovative entrepreneurial companies in partnership with smart public initiatives and investment. VIBE offers an transnational integrated approach, providing efficient support to both investors, policy makers and agencies and of course high-growth entrepreneurs across the Regions.

The Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013 assesses the competitiveness landscape of 144 economies, providing insight into the drivers of their productivity and prosperity. The Report series remains the most comprehensive assessment of national competitiveness worldwide.

World Economic Forum: The Global Competitiveness Report_2012-13

This is two years project done for the Ministry of Finance. The project has four main parts

1. Qualitative analysis of regulation
2. Analysis of public spending
3. Estimation of the grey  economy
4. Quantitative analyses of the fiscal policy

Up to now results of the project are: 6 laws analyzed and recommendations for the changes prepared and submitted (10 focus groups organized in order to collect opinions of different stakeholders), sectorial econometric model created, desk research on grey economy conducted, field survey conducted in order to estimate the level of the grey economy (sample of 1500 households), field research on the different types of the grey economy (sample of 100 street and market sellers) and research on the business procedures (sample of 6 municipalities).

Additional analyses have been prepared as part of this project:

1. Concept of the minimum wage and its influence on the Montenegrin economy;
2. Possibilities of flat income tax introduction inMontenegro;
3. Is social policy in Montenegro targeted properly?

The aim of the analysis was to define and calculate the impact of the industry sector on the overall economic situation inMontenegro, i.e. main macroeconomic indicators. The specific objectives were to estimate the impact of the main industrial producers and their volume of production on the economic performance of the country. The projects offered several scenarios of the future economic development, or in more details trends of the main macroeconomic indicators based on the different performances of main industrial produces. The analysis was used by the Government as input for economic analysis and future policy decisions in this area. The project is done for the needs of the Ministry of Economy of Montenegrin Government.

The aim of the project, financed by the FORCEMontenegro, was to asses and analyze the socioeconomic situation in each of 13 municipalities inNorthern Montenegroin order to create basis for future policy decisions as well as baseline for monitoring of implementation of future policy measures. Specific activities under the project included: collection of  all necessary data and information on socioeconomic situation of 13 municipalities including: geography and topography, natural resources, population and demographic characteristics, human resources and labor market, infrastructure, economy, its structure and performance; based on the data collected preparation of an analysis of the socioeconomic situation in each of thirteen municipalities, definition of main problems and issues for the improvement of social and economic situation in each municipality based on the data and information collected as well as analyses prepared and identify main areas in which relevant data, which would be of the significant importance for the future design of national or local policies, do not exits. The final study was prepared in electronic version available to the public, and was used as significant and reliable data and information source for many activities conducted by government and non government sectors in the area of economic development of the northern Montenegrin region.

Socio Economic Analysis of Northern Montenegrin Region (EN)

The main goal of this project is identification of transaction costs that make business more expensive and presentation of recommendations for its elimination. These costs often are not interesting for academicals discussion and public policies, but in practice they significant obstruct market transactions and make them not to happen.

The main goal of the project is identification of needs for companies’ takeover and recommendation of regulatory solutions that will regulate this issue. The project analyzes institutional framework in Montenegro, in order to affirm clauses of the different regulations that are not coordinate with the concept for the capital market and securities in Montenegro development, and to indicate possible solutions that will resolve incompatibility.

FIAS (Foreign Investment Advisory Service of the World Bank) was invited, by the Montenegrin prime Minister, in June 2003 to prepare the diagnostic of the investment climate in Montenegro. Working with its nominated counterpart, ISSP, the FIAS team spent two weeks in Montenegro in July, interviewing a broad swath of representatives from the public and private sectors. The FIAS team then prepared their draft report, which was presented at the round table prepared by ISSP team.

Economic reform Agenda is a strategic document for a Government in which the commitments for reforms in the four years period are stated.

The project was done twice, once in 2002 and the second time in 2003 year, for the needs of Central Bank of Montenegro. It includes analytical basis for the recommendations that Government of Montenegro obtains from Central Bank. As the main goals of this economic policies were proclaimed macroeconomic stability and net increase of number of employees that should be achieved through fiscal and monetary policies, improvement in business regulatory system and protection of private property as well as improvement in legislative system.

The aim of Transition Report is to deal with the main events, which have taken place in the process of transition in which Montenegro has faced a lot of changes in its socio-economic environment. The publication includes all the reforms that were introduced in our society in the mentioned period and points at the need for the improvement of the business environment, openness and internationalism, deregulation of macroeconomic activities and economic policy etc.

The purpose of this book is to give an overview of the new legislation and some of the other changes of interest to the business community. Business owners and managers need to be aware of their right in the new business environment, so they can take advantage of the new rules and tools, and their obligations is to ensure that they are in the compliance with the new regulations.

The National Integrity System is an all-encompassing method of fighting corruption in a country. The system is based on eleven ”pillars” the legislative and executive power, the Auditor General, the judiciary, the ombudsman, public services, anti-corruption agencies, the media, civil society, the private sector and international subjects. This study represents practically oriented research into the main causes of corruption in the key sectors of society, providing specific suggestions for anti-corruption activities in Montenegro.

The study was done for the needs of the World Bank. The objective of this study is to present the privatization process in Montenegro in terms of basic results, problems and experience gathered from past privatization drives in the country.

The project presents the concept of Montenegro as a micro-state from an economic point of view, and answers the question: How should the state in Montenegro be organized so it can contribute to the highest economic efficiency and prosperity? This question analyzes the practice and process of globalization and information dissemination within a context whereby the state is socially aware.

The main goal of this project is to point out that creation of new economic system, new concept of state organization and pre – qualification and investments into human capital are ”foundation stones” of Europezation of Montenegro and her long – term stability. Institutional and mental reconstruction is precondition for economic and social reconstruction of Montenegro. Montenegrin economic system longs for very liberal market economy and organization of Montenegro at principle of microstate. Concept of microstate is in accordance to key resource of Montenegro and that are services, before all tourism. Within the scope of this project was also organized conference in Brussels.

The five institutes, members of the Balkan Network, each interviewed twenty-five companies (eight domestic, eight regional and eight international companies) and summarized the results of the surveys. The results were further investigated by doing in depth case studies, two per each institute, of companies that had experienced at least one of three obstacles most frequently citied in the questionnaire. Ten first-person stories, case studies, about how entrepreneurs in the Balkans cope with obstacles to the success of their businesses were published in this publication.

Obstacles to Trade, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness (pdf)

The project was conductedin cooperation with ICER (International Center for Economic research), Torino. The document is analyzing arguments for and against liberalization and free trade as the desirable trade regime in Montenegro. In addition it offers some policy recommendation in respect to liberalization and the opening of the Montenegrin economy. The paper showed that opening up the Montenegrin economy is a necessary condition for success; but it is not sufficient.

This project explains the organization of institutional framework and infrastructure that will provide stability of financial system and risk reduction that will serve capital market development.

This was the first survey done among Montenegrin banks. The survey offered reliable data on number of banks and their employees, the banking services, the banking business results, interest rates on credits and deposits etc.

This project is targeted primarily at offering, on the basis of the existing situation, a proposal of a fiscal reform strategy. It also defines the fundamental dimension of the reform in key fields (areas) in conformity with principles and standards recognized in the world.

Goal of the project “War damage estimation” was to quantify economic consequences of NATO bombing on the Montenegrin economy. The results of this project were beneficial for creating some strategic development and reform processes in Montenegro and focusing of the international aid flows. However, this is a note about the hard time that we had at the end of the twentieth-century and the consequences and impact this had on Montenegro and Montenegrin population.

This project analyzes alternative solutions to the organization of monetary power in Montenegro. Relative costs and benefits from the perspective of the development of Montenegrin economy have been calculated for all of them. The analysis puts a special focus on the economic policy factors that will influence the introduction of DEM as the official currency, as well as practical issues (such as the issue of duties in dinars) of joining the DEM zone.

Privatization has been one of the most important issues in the transition process in Montenegro, this project considers the concept of privatization based on the analysis of the economic situation in Montenegro and experience that other countries had in the privatization process. It offers practical models and methods of privatization and its importance lays in the proposed solutions for the privatization process in Montenegro.

This material was created as an answer to the question “What economic system should Montenegro have”? The document discusses new system concepts and development, as opposed to more classical theory and deterministic constructions based on dubious foundations. The picture of a new economic system that should be compatible to the EU economic system, and makes possible internationalization of the economy, is also detailed in this document.