Dr. Susan J. Linz, professor of economics at Michigan State University, spoke at Baldwin-Wallace College in March on “European Union Expansion and Central/Eastern Europe: One Year After.”
After the initial challenges of the 1990s transition from the Communist form of economic system, Central and Eastern Europe began to focus on potential benefits of joining the European Union (EU). In May 2004, ten of those countries became members of the EU, with several more scheduled to join in 2007.
Dr. Linz discussed the factors leading to the formation of the EU and its challenges going forward, as well as the first-year effectiveness of EU membership for the newly admitted countries.
Dr. Linz, who earned her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois / Urbana-Champaign, has focused her research on the economic consequences of the transition of the former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe. She has published widely on this topic.
The event was sponsored by B-W’s Buckhorn Endowed Chair in Economics, which was established in 1983 through a gift from Buckhorn Inc., Cincinnati, a Myers Industries company. Dr. Robert Ebert is the current holder of the Buckhorn Chair and coordinator of the Distinguished Lecture Series.
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