In the early 1990’s Albania emerged from decades of communist rule and established a multiparty democracy; since then the nation has been struggling to transition to a more modern open-market economy. Agriculture accounts for not quite 50% of the nation’s employment but only contributes to 20% of GDP due to antiquated farming methods and infrastructure. While still growing, Albania’s economy is vulnerable to the global financial crisis due to robust ties to Italian and Greek banking sectors, remittances and trade. Albania remains one of the poorest countries in Europe.
