ECONOMIC RECOVERY: POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS WITHIN A NATIONAL ECONOMY

The current major economic crisis, the deepest economic disturbance since the Great Depression of 1929-1933, with a powerful financial upheaval in the capital markets in the United States. In 2008, it quickly expanded into the other parts of the world, especially in Europe and the Far East, and became a global phenomenon. Moreover, it is no longer a financial crisis, but a crisis in the real economic sector. In this context, the Republic of Croatia has been relatively successful in bridging the first phase (the financial crisis, 2008). The depth of the economic upheaval has been felt in the real sector (2009-2010), especially in the negative rates of economic growth and a drastic decline in employment, in particular in the construction sector, in the food processing industry, and to some extent in commerce. The goal and purpose of this work is to point to new, qualitative possibilities and solutions for stimulating economic growth by encouraging investment in essential areas: energy efficiency, transportation and complex infrastructure, agriculture and irrigation, and the tourist industry. The designated new and complex solutions provide the opportunity and a real basis for a national economy to enter again into the zone of positive growth rates and to engage financial capital for investment on three bases: national potential, the structural funds of the European Union, and the business interests and capital of private investors.