REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF EASTERN CROATIA

A long-term trend of Eastern Croatia economically falling behind Croatia's average is expressed through many indicators. So, a contemporary context of the development of this part of Croatia requires substantial investments and implementation of decentralizing and other measures. A trend that is especially worrisome, along already-mentioned low economic development level, is associated with extreme depopulation which is caused by long-term negative population growth values and amplified by current emigration processes of mechanical population migration. Taking into account the need to create economic policies targeted to stop negative trends concerning "loss" of population as well as those aimed to improve economic indicators of municipalities in Eastern Croatia, the goal of this paper is to analyse current situation in five counties in Eastern Croatia which have been falling behind the others economically. It will also include a review of current migration and depopulation values. After reviewing several indicators some suggestions could be provided. Analysis will be corroborated by available data from relevant state institutions and Eurostat with the goal of presenting those negative trends in regional development.