DEVELOPMENT OF INPUT-OUTPUT ANALYSIS IN CROATIA

Input-output analysis focuses on the quantitative analysis of interdependencies between the individual sectors of the production system. Walras and Paret’s general balance models can be considered as the theoretical forerunners of this analysis. The first empirical inter-sector model was formulated by Professor Wassily Leontief for the American economy. After his book was published, the application of input-output analysis began in America, and after the Second World War, in most countries of the world. In our country, the development of input-output analysis began in 1957 with the publication of the first input-output table of the Yugoslav economy. In addition to the practical application of the input-output model in the structural analysis of the economy, theoretical research in this field also developed in Croatia. Professor Branko Horvat published the first course book on Input-output analysis in Croatian, which was also one of the first course books in this field ever published in the world. The greatest contribution to the development of input-output analysis in our country, both in an economic-theoretical sense and in its practical application, was made by Professor Mijo Sekulić. Thanks to his work, until the beginning of the 90s Croatia kept pace with the most recent world accomplishments in this field of economic analysis. Besides Professor Sekulić’s work, anequally important contribution to the development of economic analysis was made by Professor Mate Babić through course books and particularly through the application ofinput-output analyses in various studies.