Date of Award

Spring 5-2-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Economics

First Advisor

Monica Das

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of Serbia and Montenegro’s 2006 independence on human development indicators, focusing on life expectancy, primary school enrolment, urban growth, and GDP per capita. While previous research suggests that Montenegro has outperformed Serbia in human development post-independence, the underlying factors remain unclear. This study employs a Difference-in-Differences (DID) methodology, using Albania, Romania, and Bulgaria as control countries to isolate the effects of independence. Further, this analysis utilizes World Bank data to assess whether autonomy, institutional changes, or external factors such as western integration influenced developmental trajectories. Initial findings suggest mixed impacts of independence on most indicators. The most statistically significant results captured by the interaction term suggests modest improvement in primary school enrolment, changes in migration patterns for Montenegro, and a decrease in GDP per capita for Serbia. Broader regional trends, rather than independence itself, appear to explain much of the observed development. These results contribute to the ongoing debate on whether political separation translates into meaningful economic and social progress.

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