Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/196639 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 12141
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
In this paper we determine the industry 4.0 (I4.0) readiness of eight Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs): Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia. We outline the nature of manufacturing in the region, describe three distinct time periods of industrialization since 1990, and explain the nature of I4.0. Using measures reflecting three key dimensions of I4.0-readiness, namely technological, entrepreneurial and governance competencies, we find that the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary and Slovenia are most I4.0-ready, and that Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania and Poland are the least ready of the CEECs. We make a number of recommendations. All the countries in the region could do more to promote entrepreneurship; to diversify and grow manufacturing export markets through focused trade facilitation and competitive exchange rates; and to cooperate regionally on industrial policy - through for instance establishing a regional CEEC I4.0 Platform.
Subjects: 
Eastern and Central Europe
entrepreneurship
innovation
manufacturing
technology
industrialization
industry 4.0
industrial policy
JEL: 
O14
O25
O33
O52
P27
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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