Zagreb, January 18, 1999 (IKA) – “The Problem of Work and Employment for Countries in Transition” was the topic of the third round table discussion within the framework of Social Science Studies of the Church on Open Questions regarding Work and Employment in Croatia, held on Monday, January 18. This round table was organized by the Croatian Association of Catholic Entrepreneurs and Croatian Catholic Radio, in cooperation with the Hanns Seidel Foundation and the World Bank. Domestic and foreign lecturers spoke about economic problems, (un)employment, difficulties encountered by countries in transition from non-market to market economies, and how to overcome them. Prof. Tomislav Ladan of the Miroslav Krleža Lexicographic Institute delivered the opening remarks, in which he explained the various meanings of the term “transition.” Dr. Klaus Fiesinger of the Hanns Seidel Foundation presented possible options “to assist countries in transition following the example of the German political foundations.” Dr. Bob Wakeman, an independent consultant, presented problems “of employment and unemployment in countries in transition, with concrete examples of the transition experience in individual countries undergoing sociopolitical and economic transformation from the so-called real socialism to capitalism during recent years.” Dr. Vlado Dimovski, president of the Center for International Competitiveness in Ljubljana, discussed the situation and solution of such difficulties in Slovenia during a lecture entitled “Transition, Competitiveness and the Labor Market in Slovenia.” Speaking about market economy, the labor market, (un)employment and proposed solutions, the lecturers focused
yon the current conditions and events, while Dr. Josip Ćurić, S.J., a retired professor at the Catholic Theological Faculty in Zagreb, spoke about “The Marxist Heritage and the Labor Market,” with reference to the current Croatian political and economic situation. Entrepreneurial experience was presented by Vladimir Wagner, director of the Dalit Company of Daruvar. Following the presentations, the lecturers answered questions in connection with the topics presented.