Competitiveness of CEE Economies and Businesses

This book presents peer-reviewed, state-of-the-art conceptual and empirical papers devoted to changes in the international competitive position of the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, its countries and businesses. While the unprecedented scale of transformation in the CEE region has provided a distinct research setting for international business and economics scholars for more than two decades, there have also been recent discussions about the extent to which the region continues to have a unique business environment. The region's economies have reached different levels of market development and modern business practice adoption, with some of them now frequently classified as advanced economies. Consequently, the same level of heterogeneity among CEE countries can also be observed at the sector and business level. 

The contributions in this book highlight possible sources of competitive advantage for CEE countries and firms, in light of recent intensive debates about the danger of the middle-income trap and the potential solutions to it.

Dr Piotr Trąpczyński is assistant professor at the Department of International Competitiveness, Poznan University of Economics and Business. He is also an MBA and Master lecturer with specialization in international business strategy and international marketing, as well as head of the research project "The determinants of foreign direct investment performance in the internationalization process of Polish companies", financed by the National Science Centre of Poland (for the period 2013-2015).
Prior to these positions, Piotr worked as Research Assistant at the Berlin Campus of ESCP Europe, where he completed a European Doctoral Programme in International Business, and lecturer in international business at the Academy of Business and Economics (VWA) in Berlin. He had also gained business experience through several positions in the IT industry, strategic management consulting and brand management in the FMCG sector. He gained his PhD degree at the Poznań University of Economics and Business, as well as M.Sc. from the City University of London, Dipl.-Kfm and Master degrees of the ESCP Europe in Berlin and Paris.
His research interests include internationalization into and from emerging and transition economies (with focus on the CEE), FDI performance, firm competitiveness, as well as mixed-method research. Dr. Piotr Trąpczyński is also supported by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP).


Dr Łukasz Puślecki  is an assistant professor at Department of International Management, Faculty of International Business and Economics, Poznan University of Economics and Business (PUEB) . He is also Director of Joint MSc in International Business and Management (JMSCIBM) Program between Poznan University of Economics and Business and Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham Business School (UK). Dr. Puslecki  holds positions in several professional and academic institutions. He is the Chair of Academy of International Business Central and Eastern Europe (AIB-CEE) Chapter, Vice-Chair of Assessing Committee of Youth Award Foundation, Germany, member of Hessen Academy of Research and Planning on Rural Areas (HAL), Germany, member of the board of the Faculty of International Business and Economics, PUEB, Poland. He is an expert in Knowledge and Innovation Institute, Warsaw, Poland as well as expert for youth policy in ECCP (European Center for Citizens’ Partnership) and ERY NETWORK (European Regions for Youth) on behalf of Memorandum of Understanding signed by 10 European Regions, expert for Vocational Training and Education in EREI-VET Network of 14 European Regions (European Regions Enhancing Internationalization of Vocational Education and Training).  He is the member of the Academy of International Business (AIB) and the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals (ASAP).
Lukasz Puslecki obtained his PhD in international economics from the Poznan University of Economics. His research focuses on technological cooperation, strategic alliances (SA) and strategic technology alliances (STA), leadership in international business, international trade and services, as well as on innovation, technological competitiveness and knowledge based economies.


Mirosław Jarosiński is a CEMS Academic Director at the Warsaw School of Economics. In the period of  2006–2011 he was a Programme Director of Master Studies in International Business at SGH. In the period 2008–2010 he was the EU Project Leader of the INTERPARSE Programme (International Trade Education in Partnership with Small and Medium Sized Enterprises) co-financed by the Government of Canada and the European Commission. Mirosław Jarosiński is a member of several international organisations. Since 2014 he has been active in the Academy of International Business Central and Eastern Europe Chapter. 
Mirosław Jarosiński obtained his PhD degree in Management from the Warsaw School of Economics, Poland. He specializes in Strategic Management and International Management. His research focuses on International New Ventures and Born Globals from emerging markets.