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Policy Papers
The Diagnostic Study of the Tourism Sector Cluster of Oni Municipality
18-Nov-2022

The Diagnostic Study of the Tourism Sector Cluster of Oni Municipality was carried out within the framework of the project financed by the European Union’s initiative - "Mayors for Economic Growth", which is implemented by the Oni municipality Mayor's Office and PMC Research Center. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of PMC Research Center and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

Everyday Peace Indicators in Conflict-Affected Communities
04-Aug-2022

Applying the Everyday Peace Indicators (EPI) methodology, this research on everyday peace attempts to explore how people in conflict-affected societies perceive and describe peace in their everyday life; more specifically, the research was guided by two questions: What are the perceptions of everyday peace in conflict-affected societies in the Georgian, Abkhaz, and South Ossetian contexts?  What are key factors influencing everyday peace in conflict-affected societies? 

The research report entails the Everyday Peace Indicators for each research location, as well as key factors and cross-cutting themes influencing everyday peace across the conflict-divided societies. The needs and perceptions of everyday peace amongst women and youth are outlined in separate chapters.   

Taking Stock of Ethnic Minority Participation in Public Service
16-May-2022

The purpose of the research is to assess the representation of ethnic minorities, in particular, Azerbaijani and Armenian-speaking groups, in civil service and identify barriers that limit their active engagement in this sector. In addition, the study evaluates the practices of data collection on civil servants’ ethnic background in accordance with the indicator of Sustainable Development Goals and examines the perspectives of different stakeholders on this issue.

Barriers to Completion of PhD Studies in Georgia
06-Apr-2022
The aims of this paper are to better understand the challenges faced by doctoral students who are on academic leave, and to offer policy recommendations with the aim of accelerating the completion time and increasing the graduation rates of doctoral students in Georgia. By analyzing completion rates of PhD students in Georgia and identifying the support mechanisms offered by universities or lack thereof, the paper analyzes the main reasons for widespread delays in graduation and offers some guidance to address a complex and multilayered problem.

The study focuses on two main research questions. First, how has the doctoral landscape changed in Georgia from 2016 to 2021? Second, what barriers do PhD students encounter at individual, institutional, and systemic levels affecting the completion of their studies? The paper ends with a set of policy recommendations to overcome those barriers to improve both completion time and graduation rates.
Uncovering the State of Play of Faculty Professional Development in Georgian Higher Education Institutions
15-Mar-2022

The purposes of this study are to explore the professional development opportunities for academic staff at Georgian public higher education institutions (HEIs), to analyze their implementation and effectiveness from the perspective of HEIs and academic staff, and to uncover the ways through which these can be advanced to better serve the development goals and priorities of HEIs and faculty. The paper briefly reviews the existing literature on the evolution of faculty professional development (FPD) and its role in both fostering universities’ academic and institutional transformation and in revitalizing academic staff capacity. The review also describes the common configurations of structures and practices of FPD and the aspirations for its implementatio

The Fifth Analytical Report: Sector And Value Chain Analytics in Georgia
01-Mar-2022

This quarterly report provides an analysis of economic trends, as well as denoting the challenges and opportunities (in local, regional, and global contexts) in selected value chains within six sectors to improve evidence-based decision-making by providing quality information and analytics. The specific sectors covered are tourism; creative industries; light manufacturing; shared intellectual services; solid waste management and recycling; and cross-cutting sectors. The analysis tracks trends from the third quarter of 2021.

Electricity Market Prices and Georgia’s Energy Security
14-Dec-2021

This policy research paper aims to draw the attention of stakeholders in Georgia’s energy sector to the issue of prices, their importance in energy security, and electricity supply security. The paper firstly reviews the existing academic and policy literature and afterwards analyses the current structure of the wholesale electricity market in Georgia to identify different prices and payment schemes. This analysis of the Georgian regulatory framework, along with current data and tendencies, allows us to identify some fundamental issues that are inherent in the structure of the ongoing wholesale electricity market in Georgia. As a result, this policy research paper highlights some challenges that need resolving in order to strengthen the security of supply in the electricity market.

Access to Finance for SMEs: Alternative Sources of Finance in Georgia
14-Dec-2021

This paper explores the alternative financial instruments that are or could become available to Georgian SMEs. Through the examination of various secondary sources and several interviews with relevant stakeholders, the paper identifies obstacles and opportunities in the path toward development of two asset-based instruments (leasing and factoring) and two equity-based instruments (crowdfunding and venture capital) that currently have limited availability and/or are being discussed by the regulatory authority of the country.

The paper also looks into several innovative practices that are increasingly being implemented around the world to support the creation of alternative sources of finance, namely open banking, regulatory sandboxes, digital banks, and central bank digital currency (CBDC).Based on secondary sources, the paper also includes three case studies on Lithuania, Poland, and Israel. Meanwhile, the paper ultimately provides several recommendations to foster the development of the alternative instruments reviewed in the paper in Georgia.

The Fourth Analytical Report: Sector and Value Chain Analytics in Georgia
06-Dec-2021

This quarterly report provides an analysis of economic trends, as well as denoting the challenges and opportunities (in local, regional, and global contexts) across selected value chains within six sectors to improve evidence-based decision-making through the provision of quality information and analytics. The specific sectors are tourism, creative industries, light manufacturing, shared intellectual services, waste management and recycling, along with cross-cutting sectors. The analysis tracks trends from the second quarter of 2021.

Please find the full publication in English and the executive summary of the report in Georgian.

The Third Analytical Report: Sector and Value Chain Analytics in Georgia
10-Sep-2021


This quarterly report provides an analysis of economic trends, as well as denoting the challenges and opportunities (in local, regional, and global contexts) across selected value chains within six sectors to improve evidence-based decision-making through the provision of quality information and analytics. The specific sectors are tourism, creative industries, light manufacturing, shared intellectual services, waste management and recycling, along with cross-cutting sectors. The analysis tracks trends from the first quarter of 2021.

Please find the full publication in English and the executive summary of the report in Georgian.