This collection contains selected papers from the Economies of the Balkan and Eastern European Countries Conference. The event was held in Florence, Italy on the 20^th–22^nd of May 2022, and was jointly hosted by the University of Florence (Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine), the Meyer Children’s Hospital, and the International Hellenic University (Department of Finance and Accounting).

The purpose of this conference was to discuss the ongoing economic crisis and its effects on European economies and societies, with a particular emphasis on South-Eastern Europe. Border issues affecting the banking and finance sectors in the region were also explored.  

This KnE Social Sciences contains 30 peer-reviewed papers. Topics include the impact of Covid-19 on banking sectors, the financial implications of environmental protectionism and corporate social responsibility, and alternative and non-traditional methods to identify new revenue sources and reduce unemployment.  

This issue will be of interest to academics, students, and professionals researching or working on monetary policy, finance, banking entrepreneurship, employment, health economics, innovation, rural development, tourism, digitalisation.

Conference date: 20^th–22^nd May 2022
Location: Florence, Italy
Organizer: the University of Florence, the Meyer Children’s Hospital, the International Hellenic University
Editors:  Professor Anastasios Karasavvoglou, Associate Professor Persefoni Polychronidou, Professor Niccolò Persiani
Published: 1 February 2023
ISSN: 2518-668X