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Migration and Development in Albania and Macedonia: the effects of remittances on education and health of family members left behind

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

Keywords: Albania; Macedonia; migration; education; health; finance;

Albania and Macedonia as traditionally migrant sending countries have experienced unprecedented migration and the end of this process is not in sight, it continues unabated. Emigration is reshaping Albania and Macedonia affecting local politics, economies and priorities, including the education and health of the family members left behind. As regards the effect of migration and remittances on education and health outcomes, the focus on Albania and Macedonia is crucial as there has been year on year low schooling and low health outputs in both of these countries. Children’s school attendance rates and literacy rates as well as health status are relatively low, leaving significant room for improvements in educational attainment and healthcare. The education might be publicly provided, however many families cannot afford to pay for it for their members due to several expenses related to school attendance such as transport, textbooks, supplies, or other implicit costs such as losses in family members with the migration. The importance of migration and of remittances for the migrant sending countries is measured also by the well-being of their recipients in terms of improved health status and in particular the health of the children. Remittances in volumes are high, and have become an increasing source of household income. Very interesting question is whether this increasing source of income has an impact on human capital accumulation decisions, including on schooling and healthcare. Many migrant sending families receive considerable financial transfers from their family members living and working abroad. Remittances help the population in migrant sending countries to cope with the distress of poverty, the inefficiencies of local labor markets and the break-down of the social security system.

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Macedonia’s preparations for civilian contribution to peace operations - the next big thing after the withdrawal from Afghanistan?

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

Keywords: Macedonia; security; peace; civilian capacities (CIVCAP); policing; media; crisis management and power sharing; legislative and institutional preparations; Afghanistan;

Probably one of the most exploited phrases by politicians from the Western Balkans when talking about issues on defense reform and international security is that the “countries from the region, from peace importers, have become peace exporters”. Over the years Macedonia has established itself as a country where that export product is mainly through military means. This policy paper aims to put the question of civilian contribution to peace operations on the agenda and advocates increased debate among policymakers and officials. It does not, however, undermine nor support a decrease in Macedonia’s military contribution. The main focus of the text is the identification of advantage areas that Macedonia has developed through the years which could be utilized in the civilian capacities (CIVCAP) model. Therefore the paper lists: 1) policing, 2) media, 3) crisis management and power sharing as Macedonia’s ready to be exported products. It also provides an insight into the ongoing legislative and institutional preparations. While legislation for contribution to peace operations by civilian means is largely in place, what seems to be lacking is a strategic turn towards more civilian contribution. This therefore produces many unknowns about civilian participation among policymakers still making it sound very remote.

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The state of energy (in) security in Macedonia

Author(s): Andreja Bogdanovski,Ana Stojilovska / Language(s): English

Keywords: Macedonia; energy security; EU and NATO accession; external risks; external resilience; domestic risks; domestic resilience;

Energy security is of crucial national security importance. This paper analyzes the state of energy security in Macedonia and tries to identify the main issues hampering an improved energy security situation.

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Risks of Corruption in Public-Private Partnership in Macedonia

Ризици од корупција кај јавно приватно партнерство во Македонија

Author(s): Ana Stojilovska / Language(s): Macedonian

Keywords: Macedonia; corruption; public-private partnership; governance; civil sector;

Борбата со корупцијата е горливо прашање за Република Македонија. Европска комисија во последниот извештај за напредок констатира дека корупцијата и понатаму продолжува да постои во многу области и дека корупцијата во јавните набавки е сериозен проблем. Понатаму, корупцијата на локално ново во Република Македонија е недоволно истражена, а и јавната доверба во институциите надлежни за справување со корупција е ниска, па затоа е важно поактивно вклучување на граѓанскиот сектор во мониторирање на трошењето на јавните пари како и континуирано истражување на областа, со цел да се придонесе кон зајакнување на доброто владеење во државата.

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Series:ANALYTICA - Policy Briefs

Migration and Development in Albania and Macedonia: the effects of remittances on education and health of family members left behind

Migration and Development in Albania and Macedonia: the effects of remittances on education and health of family members left behind

Macedonia’s preparations for civilian contribution to peace operations - the next big thing after the withdrawal from Afghanistan?

Macedonia’s preparations for civilian contribution to peace operations - the next big thing after the withdrawal from Afghanistan?

The state of energy (in) security in Macedonia

The state of energy (in) security in Macedonia

Risks of Corruption in Public-Private Partnership in Macedonia

Ризици од корупција кај јавно приватно партнерство во Македонија