The emphasis of the paper was to analyze young people's reflections on the characteristics of the Croatian economy so far, challenges and possible changes. Young people, as bearers of new values (innovations) and followers of old ones (traditions), are the basis of economic development. The work in chapter one presents selected historical facts and analyzes key demographic processes. The second chapter deals with the potential of natural resources in the function of economic development, the competitive characteristics of the economy, and the effects of economic crises. The third chapter presents the circumstances of youth growth, analyzes the perception and importance of education, understanding the value system, what policies are good for young people and what generational problems they present. An empirical research was conducted at the Fakultetu ekonomije i turizam dr. Mijo Mirković, Sveučilište Jurja Dobrile in Pula, on the topic of youth reflection on the Croatian economy.