"Live Players" with Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg The Eastern European Experiment
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Aug 14, 2024 
Samo Burja, an insightful analyst on Eastern Europe's socio-economic landscape, shares his expertise on the region's dramatic transformation since the fall of communism. He discusses how countries like Poland are emerging as tech hubs while balancing traditional values with Western influences. The conversation delves into immigration trends, generational shifts, and the impact of EU integration. Samo also forecasts a brighter economic future for Eastern Europe, hinting that Poland might outpace Germany economically by the century’s end.
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East–West Political And Cultural Split
- Eastern and Western Europe diverged politically and culturally after the Cold War, with the East more focused on Russia as a security threat.
- This divergence shows up across regulation, energy policy, immigration, and attitudes toward nuclear power.
Selective Openness To Migration
- Eastern Europe is skeptical of mass Islamic immigration but welcomes economic migrants from places like the Philippines and Vietnam.
- Poland accepted many Ukrainians and found that wave more economically successful than earlier refugee influxes in Western Europe.
Sustained Catch-Up Growth In The East
- Eastern Europe has shown consistent economic growth over the last 20 years, partly due to catching up from a low baseline.
- Some countries like Estonia and Slovenia now approach EU average GDP per capita while others lag behind.