Prosperity through freedom and peace

#409

The harbour basin of Split’s old town. In February, the old town is almost deserted. Perhaps a good time to take a holiday in Croatia’s second largest city.

When you cross the border from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia (as I did this week in Metković in the south of Croatia), one thing becomes very obvious: The standard of living in Croatia is significantly higher than it is in its neighboring country. The roads are better developed, and the houses are larger and plastered.

A number:

Croatia’s nominal GDP per capita is roughly 2.5 to almost 3 times higher than Bosnia and Herzegovina’s.

nominal GDP > a country’s total economic output measured at current market prices, divided by its population, without adjusting for inflation or differences in cost of living

Why is it so?

Croatia has one of the longest coastlines in Europe. The mainland coastline is about 1,777 km. If you include the many islands, it is 5,835 km. So there is a lot of room for people wanting to make a holiday by the sea.

More numbers.

Croatia records more than 20 million tourist arrivals every year, which is five times its population. In 2024, foreign tourists generated nearly €15 billion in revenue for Croatia, a record high and an increase from previous years. The country on the Dalmatian Coast is, therefore, a good example of how peaceful coexistence and unrestricted freedom of movement can bring prosperity to a country.

See you in Democracy.