New Development Patterns for European Emerging Economies

Abstract

Emerging economies are highly relevant cases of countries that must incorporate sustainability goals into their development strategies and simultaneously solve structural gaps. European emerging countries, many of them from the ex-communist Eastern part of the continent, were subject to massive transformation and reforms during the last thirty years, trying to implement the free economy mechanisms. The transition was not an easy process, and its scars, represented by weak institutions, corruption, social and economic inequalities, and regulatory system flaws, are still vital features that need to be addressed. Besides, sustainability issues and climate change mitigation are new challenges for these countries that need to recover from development gaps. However, the last thirty years, characterized by deindustrialization, chaotic urbanization, unequal economic growth, and profound asymmetries between social categories, did not create the proper premises for approaching sustainability goals. Nevertheless, several features, such as the potential of renewable energy sources, ease the implementation of sustainable development patterns and achieve climate change mitigation targets.