Mission
CEVES is an independent think-and-do-tank dedicated to the sustainable socio-economic development of Serbia and the Western Balkans, based on entrepreneurship, solidarity and civic initiative. At present, CEVES energy is focused to identifying and researching the most important determinants of sustainable socio-economic development in Serbia and the region, as well as offering innovative, responsible and evidence-based solutions and policies not only for the state but for wider society – primarily to those directly affected by these issues that (entrepreneurs, employees / unemployed, scientific institutions, etc.). CEVES is committed to nationalization and achieving sustainable development goals in Serbia, as a particularly suitable framework for directing society development and for the expansion and embodiment of European values.
What we do?
In 2004, CEVES established a group of leading Serbian economists headed by Kori Udovički. Since then, CEVES has set new standards in macroeconomic and policy analysis with the publication “Quarterly Monitor of Economic Trends and Policies in Serbia”, and together with the Faculty of Economics of the University of Belgrade, founded the Foundation for the Advancement of Economics (FREN). FREN is today one of the leading scientific institutions in Serbia in the field of macroeconomics, social inclusion and the labor market. In the meantime, CEVES has redirected its attention to the questions of accelerating economic development and its sustainability – both ecological and social. So far, CEVES has made a pervasive and systematic “scan” of the Serbian economy (index of development potentials, Stilized Facts, SDG paper) and started working on a similar “scan” of the state as a public service provider (Health). The plan for the nearest future is the capture of the regional economic structure and relations between local and central authorities.
CEVES argues that the practical and applicable recommendations have to be based on rigorous analysis and the latest knowledge and tools, as well as the view that the processing of the most important topics cannot wait for the “development of economic science” to become subject to scientific treatment. We ask the most relevant questions and answer them fairly, with the support of deep knowledge of the facts and cooperation with experts who have the best international knowledge available, as well as careful use of innovative and alternative methods of data analysis.
What’s Next?
CEVES’s new focus is on developing areas of research relevant to inclusive and sustainable economic growth filling a key gap in knowledge — such as industrial organization, key sector economics (e.g. agribusiness, energy and knowledge economy), and corporate governance. Once developed, CEVES will use this knowledge to promote change in line with European standards and values through advocacy, capacity-building and stakeholder mobilization. The mobilization of stakeholders, or the broader public, is an important goal and tool for CEVES. Decentralized market forces anywhere need to be complemented with collective action, be it by the government, or through the self-organization of professional, business and civil society organizations. To the extent that Serbian government can be spurred into action, CEVES is committed to advocate and partner with it for adoption of such policies, and where it is not, it is committed to building the necessary constituencies for action outside the public sector. However, mobilization is only conceivable if a society can be rallied behind positive goals, within the context of a shared vision. Therefore, CEVES aims to devote its resources to:
- identification of economic & employment growth opportunities, and
- formulation of national & sectorial development strategies.
CEVES will strive to build a network of partnership relations, working closely with Serbia’s business associations and non-government organizations, as well as government institutions, local communities and other stakeholders. In its effort to advance knowledge not presently available in Serbia, CEVES will rely on top international experts, organizations and institutions.
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