The Resilience of the Hungary–Serbia Border Region’s Economy during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the economic changes that occurred in the Hungarian–Serbian border region during the COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate the resilience of this region. The border, currently functioning as the external Schengen frontier of the European Union, is subject to strict controls; nevertheless, the two sides remain closely interconnected through a range of social and economic relations. For the purpose of examining resilience empirically, the region was delineated at the NUTS 3 level, encompassing two Hungarian counties and three Serbian districts. The analysis focuses on GDP and employment data (from Eurostat). Both sides of the border were affected by the pandemic and subsequent austerity measures. While the region as a whole demonstrates resilience in terms of GDP, as evidenced by a return to growth, employment patterns reveal more heterogeneous trajectories: some counties and districts exhibit resilience, whereas others show signs of relapse or persistent dysfunction.