Route calculation
Route calculation


National economy of Croatia

 

Following World War II, rapid industrialization and diversification occurred within Croatia. Decentralization came in 1965, allowing growth of certain sectors, particularly the tourist industry. Profits from Croatian industry were used to develop poorer regions in the former Yugoslavia. This, coupled with austerity programs and hyperinflation in the 1980s, contributed to discontent in Croatia.

 

ekonomic

Privatization and the drive toward a market economy had barely begun under the new Croatian Government when war broke out in 1991. As a result of the war, the economic infrastructure sustained massive damage, particularly the revenue-rich tourism industry. From 1989 to 1993, GDP fell 40.5%. With the end of the war in 1995, tourism and Croatias economy recovered moderately. However, corruption, cronyism, and a general lack of transparency stymied meaningful economic reform, as well as much-needed foreign investment.

Croatias economy grew strongly in the 2000s, stimulated by a credit boom led by newly privatized and foreign-capitalized banks, some capital investment (most importantly road construction), further growth in tourism, and gains by small- and medium-sized private enterprises. One downside to these steadily improving trends was a strong growth in Croatia’s stock of foreign debt, which by 2010 had reached almost 100% of GDP.

 

ekonomic2

Despite the gains, substantial challenges remain. Croatia’s economy was hit hard by the global financial crisis, and has recovered more slowly than many of its neighbors. The country experienced a drop from 2.4% GDP growth in 2008 to a 5.8% contraction in 2009. GDP fell a further 1.2% in 2010 (about $62.25 billion), while 2011 saw approximately 0.7% growth. Official unemployment is 17.9%. Croatias external imbalances and high foreign debt present long-term risks to its economic well-being, as continued access to foreign credit may be severely limited. An inefficient bureaucracy, relatively high labor costs, and lack of transparency in taxes, fees, and the public tender process have all led to a generally unfavorable climate for foreign investment. The new government intends to eliminate certain non-tax fees on business, consolidate overlapping government agencies, and identify administrative barriers to foreign investment. Improvements to Croatia’s judicial system are not yet fully achieved, another hindrance to economic development.

 

The privatization process, begun in the 1990s, has been unsteady, largely as a result of public mistrust engendered when many state-owned companies were sold to the politically well-connected at below-market prices. The government sold three large metals plants in early 2007, but the Croatian state still controls a significant part of the economy, with government spending accounting for as much as 50% of GDP. Some large, state-owned industries continue to rely on government subsidies, crowding out investment in education and technology needed to ensure the economys long-term competitiveness. The government is trying to privatize several state-owned shipyards. As of October 2011, there were signs of progress in this area, but the process had not yet been finalized.

 


Read all reviews

Last reviewed Croatia

Олдтаймеры в Задаре Photos: 7

Олдтаймеры в Задаре

13.08.2016
City: Zadar
Author: Адриатика
На первое мая случился у нас бооольшой праздник, никак не связанный с солидарностью трудящихся. К нам из Москвы приехала любимая подруга.Наконец-то я дорвалась до копченой колбасы, лосося, бабаевского и "Пяти...
Загреб Photos: 68

Загреб

08.09.2017
City: Zagreb
Author: Адриатика
С Загреба началось наше знакомство с Хорватией — замечательно красивой и гостеприимной страной. И, как говорится, путешествие сразу задалось. Нам очень понравился этот несуетливый, по-европейски респектабельный...
Хорватия, Брела, 13 июня 2011 (часть 4) Photos: 40

Хорватия, Брела, 13 июня 2011 (часть 4)

10.08.2016
City: Brela
Author: Адриатика
На четвертый день мы решили продолжить нашу славную традицию вечерних поездок по окрестным городам и селам. И отправились в небольшой курортный поселок Брелу, что находится между Омишем и Макарской. Брелу часто...
Хорватия. Ровинь. Август 2013 Photos: 44

Хорватия. Ровинь. Август 2013

03.08.2016
City: Rovinj
Author: Адриатика
Ровинь — пожалуй, самый живописный город севера Хорватии. Его старая часть разместилась на яйцеобразном полуострове, лежащем в море между двумя глубоководными бухтами. В течение пятисот лет, начиная...
Хорватия. Пиратский Омиш. Photos: 40

Хорватия. Пиратский Омиш.

16.08.2016
City: Omis
Author: Адриатика
Когда мы ехали в Омиш, мы ничего не знали об этом городе, просто по дороге из Сплита в Брелу заприметили красивую речку, на берегах которой город. И решили съездить как-нибудь сюда. Омиш раскинулся на берегах...