Global Economic Mechanisms and Szeklerland

Abstract

This paper identifies the opportunities for development and take-off points by taking into account the operation, processes and basic principles of the global economy. The current economic situation of the region mentioned will be detailed using macroeconomic indicators such as GDP, foreign direct investment, the HDI index and infrastructural networks. It becomes evident that the focus of this paper is a semi-periphery region of a semi-periphery country, which, in addition to the stagnation of the current situation, is inching towards the periphery. It is essential to explore the main routes through which the future development of the region might be reoriented towards a modern and competitive economy in the current global environment. It is therefore not specific solutions, but development paths that this paper outlines. The obvious handicaps are, however, coupled with unique opportunities, such as natural resources, biodiversity, traditions and a strategic geographic location. The free flow of labour, goods and capital has become a cross-border and intertwined reality, and significantly influence the economies of all countries and regions. The migration of capital and the division of labour it results in assign roles to states and global regions. In this capacity, they connect to networks whose micro-interactions outline the entirety of the global economic landscape. The Szeklerland is not an administratively recognised region; it is surrounded by psychological borders, and represents a cultural, ethnic, historical entity based on tradition. Although the push for its recognition is still ongoing, as evidenced by the efforts of representative bodies such as the Minority SafePack initiative for the protection of minorities, global processes and laws still apply to it, influencing both its present and expected future path. Despite the unfavourable historical background that has left its mark on its economic state to a significant extent, thus also shaping the ways in which it attained its current level of development, the region examined possesses significant potential, and with the appropriate measures, the possible future evolution of its economy may give cause for optimism. This, however, may only be accomplished if there is an appropriate infrastructural network underpinning the region, with the aim of ensuring the rapid movement of products, services, high volumes of data, information, the workforce and money. Digitisation plays an important part in this process, yet at the same time, technology transfer and innovation are both indispensable for increasing efficiency.