The time we live in is marked by political tensions and uncertainties that, of course, also affect the European economy. Alongside the well-known slowdown of the most important European economy, Germany, France is facing increasing problems, with its fiscal position under greater strain from political instability. Although it heavily relies on exports to Germany, Central Europe remains a bright spot. Economists predict an average GDP growth rate of between two and three percent for the economies in these countries, which is significantly higher than the growth in Western Europe.
Who are the key figures in these vibrant economies of Central Europe? Over the past thirty-five years, during which the former so-called Eastern Bloc has undergone a transition, a layer of leading entrepreneurs has crystallized, creating serious business empires and becoming billionaires themselves. The rankings of the richest people published by Bloomberg and Forbes serve as a guide, but the wealthiest individuals in Central Europe are mostly unknown to the local public despite geographical proximity. Moreover, most of them have extensive businesses in Croatia. Their success stories often reflect a kind of history of the sometimes painful transition from a communist regime to a society based on liberal-democratic principles.
This transition has created inequality that, even today, despite a significant leap in the standard of living in the former Eastern Bloc, has not yet been fully healed. It is also a story about the fragility of democracy and the difficult eradication of corruption and clientelism that still afflicts this part of Europe. In any case, Croatian society can draw a number of lessons from these examples.