Policy Brief: The Western Balkans in Times of the Global Pandemic

Policy Brief: The Western Balkans in Times of the Global Pandemic by Bieber et al. The global COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken by governments around the world constitute a major rupture to the “business as usual”, and this includes the Western Balkans, too. The pandemic has been overshadowing other developments while also accelerating existing…

Theory and practice of aging upon covid-19 pandemic

Journal article: Theory and practice of aging upon covid-19 pandemic by A. Sidorenko & A. Golubev Never before in history aging has been such a significant factor for epidemics as it is now for the current COVID-19 pandemic, which features a drastic shift of mortality towards older ages. Our analysis of data on COVID-19-related mortality in Spain,…

Report: Western Balkans Regular Economic Report, No. 17, Spring 2020: The Economic and Social Impact of COVID-19

Report: Western Balkans Regular Economic Report, No. 17, Spring 2020: The Economic and Social Impact of COVID-19 by the World Bank In Spring 2020, Western Balkan countries – like most others in the world—have been forced to impose tight restrictions on economic life to contain the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. In the first half of 2020,…

Report: TVET Systems’ Response to COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities

Report: TVET Systems’ Response to COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities by the World Bank This note focuses on the role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides guidance on reducing the adverse impact of the pandemic on TVET provision and enhancing the contribution TVET can make…

Crisis in Serbia: Economic Measures regarding the Coronavirus Situation

Crisis in Serbia: Economic Measures regarding the Coronavirus Situation

In periods of crisis caused by major social upheavals such as the current coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2), society is derailed with great consequences to social institutions and people’s lives. The states’ response to this challenge is varied, although most countries are implementing measures to regulate the market and its basic principles in order to meet the subsistence minimum and ensure the socio-economic security of their citizens.

Dismantling health and social care systems kills

Dismantling health and social care systems kills

Research carried out by the European Centre had already shown pervasive inequalities in access to care as well as in the coverage of health insurance and potential remedies. The Covid-19 crisis brings the evidence to the headlines of the news that social inequalities and the dismantling of health and social welfare systems are killing people. The current crisis also shows that health and social care are not a ‘product’ which can be produced low-cost and provided to those with sufficiently large incomes only.

Policy Brief: Unleashing transformation through partnerships: The lost potential of SDG 17

Policy Brief: Unleashing transformation through partnerships: The lost potential of SDG 17 by A. Scoppetta & L. Stott This Policy Brief analyses how partnership is understood and promoted in European Union regulations and programmes. The central argument of the brief is that a much deeper understanding of partnership than that presented in the Sustainable Development…

Building Awareness on Dementia in Ukraine before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Building Awareness on Dementia in Ukraine before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

According to Ukrainian legislation social services are provided from municipal social protection departments for free to old lonely people without any mental health problems. Old people suffering from mental health problems must be cared for from special agencies. Unfortunately, these agencies do not exist, yet.