A newly published policy brief authored by our researcher Amela Kurta explores the impact of rising food and energy prices on household livelihoods in the Western Balkans, with a specific focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina. The brief examines how inflation, driven by global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and supply chain disruptions, has disproportionately affected vulnerable households. These families, who spend a large portion of their income on basic needs, have had to compromise on education, healthcare, and other critical expenses to manage escalating costs.
The policy brief, developed as part of the regional project The Perfect Storm: Food and Energy (In)Securities Threaten the Economies of the Western Balkans, incorporates findings from a regional study and insights from a national event in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It offers actionable recommendations, including strengthening social protection systems and introducing targeted subsidies, to mitigate the challenges faced by vulnerable households and ensure long-term economic stability in the region. The project was financially supported by SmartBalkans Project and implemented by the regional WEBEcon network.
The full policy brief is now available and can be accessed here.