Economic complexity and product space of Visegrad countries : a new perspective on Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia

Abstract

In 1991, four Central European countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) decided to form a political alliance called the Visegrad Group to explore paths of cooperation in various domains. Since the fall of communism, these countries have followed a formidable development trajectory that culminated with their integration in the European Union in 2004. In this thesis, we approach this region using a new macroeconomic theory that provides a framework to evaluate the complexity of economies and their productive structures. After analyzing trade data at a world level we find that V4 countries have complex economic structures. They also demonstrate a high level of robustness as they maintain consistent Economic Complexity Rankings when we vary the theory's underlying assumptions. We show that V4 countries have acquired capabilities relevant to many sectors, which provides them with numerous development opportunities. Based on those findings, we suggest policy recommendations leading both to stronger regional integration and to the creation of a more attractive business environment.