USAID Center for Economic Analyses - Towards a Sustainable Think Tank
Start date: Sept.1, 2005
End date: Dec. 31, 2011
Project budget (Life of Project): $174,880
Implementer: Center for Economic Analyses (CEA)
Objectives
Continuously research economic development and public policy in the Republic of Macedonia. Offer recommendations, suggestions and measures to the government, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. Responding to the previous lack of independent sources of information in the country, the goal is to institute a sustainable think tank that provides outstanding intellectual capacities and resources, and to create a demand for those services that ensures Macedonia has the capability to properly support policy analysis.
Components
- Generate macroeconomic analysis, statistical data, reports and other working papers
- Monitor the economic situation of Macedonia
- Develop recommendations on key policy issues facing the Macedonian economy
Achievements/Impact
The Government of Macedonia (GOM) has acted on a number of recommendations that were presented in CEA reports, such as “Measures for Improving Export Trade and Fighting Trade Deficits” prepared for the Ministry of Economy, and measures on how to improve the environment, prepared for the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce. CEA studies were quoted in two World Bank reports on Macedonia released in 2009 (“Country Economic Memorandum” and “Poverty, Jobs and Firms: An Assessment for 2002-2006.”) CEA completed several pioneering works for local governments, including one on local government borrowing – a regional project involving the Ministry of Finance that has had a major impact on decentralization and the capacity of municipalities to access finance. Another project involved the preparation of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) feasibility study and a Local Economic Development Strategy. CEA’s partnership with the National Audit Office (NAO) of UK and the NAO from Macedonia continues in the form of preparation and improvement of a handbook, curriculum and training on financial scrutiny for the Macedonian Parliament staff.
USAID/Macedonia has extensively used findings from CEA studies when designing and implementing program activities. These include the “Labor Market Study” and the “Capital Market Analysis” for the Business Environment Activity, the “Report on the Decentralization Process” for the Macedonia Local Government Activity, and the report on “Challenges for Improving the Competitiveness of the Private Sector in Macedonia” for planning future USAID assistance in the economic growth sector and developing the next USAID strategy.
Sustainability/Legacy
There is a narrow market for macroeconomic analysis in Macedonia, and the GOM often still makes decisions based on politics as opposed to sound quantitative analysis. While CEA has developed into a professional and effective organization, its long-term sustainability will depend on the Government’s commitment to private sector interests and receptivity for independent analysis.
Contact Information
Contact at USAID: Vesna Stevkovska, AORT; vstevkovska@usaid.gov
Chief of Party: Marjan Nikolovski makmar2000@yahoo.com
Information Officer: Hristijan Risteski; info@cea.org.mk
Website: www.cea.org.mk