P48 - Other Economic Systems: Political Economy; Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional StudiesReturn

This paper focuses on the identification of the variables determining the attractiveness of the exports from the Visegrad Group to Latin American and Caribbean countries using methods of economic history and cliometrics. There are a total of twenty-two countries represented over a period of ten years, from 2001 to 2013. It considers institutional and technological variables traditionally not taken into account, such as corruption control, patent applications and FDI inflow per GDP. As shown in the analysis and results presented in this paper, these factors not only point back to traditional variables such as GDP, inflation, population, the share of GDP by sector, etc. but also have an influence in attracting trade flows. This research will also analyze the main export trends from V4 to Latin America and Caribbean in a historical perspective between 2001 and 2013.

The research on small states calls attention to the fact that these states are usually unable to push through their national interests and needs on the international scene although their number far outweighs the bigger countries. At the same time, it shows that small states can partially eliminate their inability through regional connections and membership in international organisations. Such activities are becoming increasingly evident also in the European Union. Therefore, the text observes tactics that small states use to push through their national interests in decision-making. It focuses on the Council of the European Union as it represents the main decision-making body. The text also reveals capacity and voting limits that small states are faced with in the Council of the EU. At the same time, it explores strategies that help small states eliminate these disadvantages and strengthen the role of small states in decision-making processes in the Council of the EU.