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A comprehensive insight into a region which is characterized by rapid economic and social changes with a significant rise in foreign direct investments and privatization. Analysis covers political, legal, economic and social trends, and topics such as the influence of informal networks and corruption, as well as cultural diversity.

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Editors´ Introduction PART I: POLITICAL AND LEGAL PERSPECTIVES ON SOUTH EAST EUROPE South East Europe 1980-2010: A Short Historical Overview; C.Promitzer Europeanization in South East Europe; D.Fink-Hafner & D.Lajh Political Culture in South East Europe: The Examples of Bulgaria and Romania; K.Liebhart Corruption in South East Europe; R.Stefanov & D.Hristov Networks and Informal Power Structures in South East Europe: A.Berit Grodeland Legal Certainty and the Rule of Law in South East Europe; A.Patsch PART II: PERSPECTIVES ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE Regional Disparities and Economic Convergence in South East Europe; R.Kosfeld & A.Werner Macroeconomic Consequences of the Integration of the SEE Area into the Eurozone; R.Neck Innovation Capacity in the SEE Region; ?.Kutla?a & S.Radosevic Small Firms as a Development Factor in South East Europe; W.Bartlett Direct Taxation of Business in South East European Countries; C.Bellak & M.Liebensteiner Consumer Behaviour and Food Consumption Patterns in South East Europe; E.Vasileva & D.Ivanova The Transport and IT Infrastructure in South and Eastern European Countries; M.Leibrecht & M.Liebensteiner PART III: SOCIAL AND CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON SOUTH EAST EUROPE ´Social capital´ in Central, Eastern and South East Europe; D.Spencer Trends in the Western Balkan Labour Markets; H.Vidovic Higher Education in Former Yugoslav Countries: Impact of the Bologna Process; D.Crosier & E.Heath Cultural Diversity in South East Europe; A.Simkus Work-related Attitudes in the SEE Region; A.Borgulya Values and Trust in Business Relationships in Former Yugoslav Markets; M.Makovec Bren?i? & V.Zabkar

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DIETMAR STERNAD is Lecturer for International Management at Carinthia University of Applied Sciences in Villach, Austria. In his managerial career, he was the Managing Director and Publisher of a leading Austrian and Croatian book publishing group and the CEO of a media company based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he founded the country´s highest-circulation daily newspaper and leading newspaper portal.

THOMAS DÖRING is Professor for Economics and Director of the Research Centre for Interregional Studies and International Management (ISMA) at Carinthia University of Applied Sciences in Villach, Austria. He conducts research in the areas of public finance, urban and regional economics as well as environmental economics, and has authored more than 170 scientific books and articles.

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