Reviving Albania's economic growth through Roma inclusion

Abstract
The purpose of this policy paper is to review the economic conditions
related to economic growth after the pandemic of COVID 19 in Albania
and policies that could improve such prospects through inclusive policies
and better integration of Roma communities. The numerous negative shocks that
happened since the global financial crisis of 2008, have caused major changes in
the fundamentals of growth and development. Fiscal imbalances, labor market
and demographic trends have worsened, posing major challenges to a return of
the economy at growth rates needed for achieving convergence with developed
economies.
Active labor market policies and mobilization of available human resources are
key to change such trends. Roma and Egyptian communities are a good potential
that with appropriate policies, can have a very positive contribution in improving
productivity of the economy. Rather than considered as a liability which costs the
national economy, they are in fact an asset which can contribute to taxation rather
than become passive beneficiaries. This is, as World Bank states, smart economics.
This paper will focus on (1) fundamentals before the COVID 19 and how they
impacted the government response to such a large crisis, (2) projections on the key
micro and macro-economic variables for the next five years, (3) dynamics of labor
market and unemployment conditions, particularly related to Roma and Egyptian
communities, (4) what could be economic and fiscal impact of Roma integration
in the labor market, (5) what is progress to date in the integration of Roma and
Egyptian and what policy innovations can be made to make Roma and Egyptian
integration an integral part of development and social cohesion policies.