Megi Marku

Email: megi.marku@uniel.edu.al


Megi MarkuMegi Marku is a highly accomplished lecturer and researcher based in Albania. She currently holds the position of Economics Lecturer at the University of Elbasan, where she teaches a range of subjects including Microeconomics, Development Economics, and Business Statistics. In addition to her teaching role, Marku is also a University Researcher at the Scientific Research Center of the Faculty of Economy, a position she has held since 2020. Marku's expertise in the field of economics is reflected in her educational background, which includes a PhD in Economics from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Tirana, as well as a Master's degree in European Economic Studies from the same institution. Her research has been disseminated through several international conferences held in various countries including Italy, Malta, Hungary, Austria, and others. These conferences served as a platform for her to share her findings and exchange knowledge with other researchers and experts in her field. Furthermore, she has authored numerous articles predominantly focused on human and institutional capital, migration, and sustainable development in internationally recognized journals. Additionally, she has published a monograph titled "The Crisis of the European Union Budget." Marku has also been involved in various projects related to economics and research. She is currently the coordinator for the project "HEI4FUTURE" on behalf of the University of Elbasan, which is funded by the EIT HEI Initiative. She is also a member of several working groups of the "Making Young Researchers' Voices Heard for Gender Equality" project, as well as the "European Network on International Student Mobility: Connecting Research and Practice" project. In addition, she is a member of the "China in Europe Research Network" project, where she contributes to working groups focused on strategic sectors and infrastructure development, as well as labor and migration. Marku's dedication to the field of development economics and her contributions to research make her a valuable member of the academic community in Albania and beyond.




Papers Published in World Economics:


Institutional Capital in EU Candidate Countries

In economic theory, a growing understanding of the crucial connection between institutional capital and economic development. Modern economists stress that institutional capital is key to shaping an economic progress, influencing the policies of organisations like the World Bank and IMF, as North (1994) points out. This is especially important for developing countries. Efficient institutional capital plays a crucial role in the aspirations of candidate countries waiting European Union (EU) membership. These countries must cultivate strong institutions as the foundation of their path toward EU integration, given the strict criteria and expectations set forth by the EU. To conduct a comprehensive and complex analysis of a country’s institutional capital, there are used two separate indexes: the Rule of Law Index and the Economic Freedom Index. These indexes provide clear but complementary insights into various aspects of a nation’s institutional efficiency.

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A Matter of Wealth, Intangible Wealth and Sustainable Development
Author: Megi Marku

Wealth disparities among countries with varying levels of natural resources have been a long-standing topic of debate. Despite numerous hypotheses proposed over the years, a new concept has recently emerged that is gaining traction among scholars. This concept, known as intangible wealth, is derived from a World Bank study and comprises non-material factors such as human capital, institutional efficiency and effective governance. The intangible wealth hypothesis posits that these intangible factors play a crucial role in explaining the differences between poor and rich countries. By emphasising the importance of intangible wealth, this concept challenges conventional notions of wealth that focus solely on natural resources and material assets. Intangible wealth has emerged as a new concept that explains the differences in economic prosperity among countries. The concept emphasises the importance of factors such as human capital, institutional quality and efficient governance in promoting economic growth. Policymakers can use this concept as a framework for developing policies that promote sustainable economic growth. By focusing on intangible assets, countries can create an environment that is conducive to economic prosperity.

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