01763cas a2200241 a 4500 AALejournalIMF017522 230101c9999 xx r poo 0 0eng d 5.00 USD 9781475587937 1934-7685 BD-DhAAL BD-DhAAL International Monetary Fund. European Dept. Slovak Republic : Selected Issues. Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 2017. 1 online resource (32 pages) IMF Staff Country Reports <strong>Off-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required <strong>On-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required Electronic access restricted to authorized BRAC University faculty, staff and students This Selected Issues paper uses the case of the Slovak Republic to investigate how European Union (EU) countries can make optimal use of EU funds to reduce regional disparities. The findings suggest that high-quality government and a more educated population lead to better absorption of EU funds. There is also evidence that absorption increases when spending is more decentralized. Regions with a sufficient level of human capital and adequate institutions are more likely to spend the allocated funds efficiently and to experience growth as a result. With appropriate administrative and governance capacities, fighting corruption should therefore be the priority to speed absorption and allow for higher-quality projects. Mode of access: Internet IMF Staff Country Reports; Country Report ; No. 2017/072 Full text available on IMF http://elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/2017/072/002.2017.issue-072-en.xml IMF e-Library