scholarly journals FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS IN THE REGION OF WESTERN BALKANS

Author(s):  
Blerta Dragusha ◽  
Ted Oelfke ◽  
Ilirjana Gjergji
2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Petrusheva ◽  
Aleksandar Nikolovski

Amongst economists there is a broad consensus that in order to overcome economic stagnation the economic growth model should be more directed towards increasing investments and export and less reliant on consumption. The stable commitment towards improving the business ambient, the implementation of structural reforms in the field of competitiveness, the export sector as well as investments in infrastructure and education are the fundamental prerequisites to be realized for the opening of perspectives in the overall social development of the countries in the Western Balkans, including the Republic of Macedonia. The dominant driving force of economic growth – investments (foreign and domestic) have not been sufficiently implemented so that structural economic problems such as the low GDP growth rate, unsatisfactory export, unfavourable industrial structure have been present during the entire periodsince the independence of the Republic of Macedonia. Unlike other countries in Middle and Eastern Europe such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in which foreign capital was steered towards manufacturing higher added value products, in the Republic of Macedonia investment entered mainly the trade and the banking industry, and quite less in manufacturing.Lacking own significant capacities for considerable increase of the gross-investment rate, assets sources for investments must be found in foreign accumulation, particularly via foreign direct investments so as not to increase the degree indebting the country. The global economic and financial crisis which spread over Europe in the last years has motivated the countries in the Western Balkans, including the Republic of Macedonia, to engage into a more active and more aggressive attraction of foreign capital. Foreign direct investments are considered the highest economic priority for long-term development, whereas the benefits to the national economy are multiple and influence the reduction of unemployment, increase of export, inflow of new technology, knowledge and skills, as well as improvement of the population’s living standard. However, despite the commitment, reforms and activities undertaken to attract FDI, the countries of the Western Balkans are facing remarks from investors for having an insufficiently reformed judicial system, bureaucratic issues, inefficient public administration and corruption. Therefore, it is essential to work continually on improving the macroeconomic environment and implement a long-term strategy to attract FDI through active policies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 07059
Author(s):  
Bilal Sucubasi ◽  
Borce Trenovski ◽  
Berkan Imeri ◽  
Gunter Merdzan

Research background: In order to contribute to economic growth, inward foreign direct investments (FDI) need to meet certain economic and social criteria. Besides the contribution to the level of education, technological level, financial development, tax system, trade and investment policies, and market size, FDI should also encourage domestic investments (crowding in-effect). Purpose of the article: This paper examines the importance and effects of the inward and outward direct investments, gross savings as well as real growth on domestic investments in the case of Western Balkan countries (North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Bosnia & Herzegovina). Thus, the logic behind this research is to determine whether and in which direction are aimed effects of FDI. Methods: The relation between FDI and domestic investments has been analyzed by employing panel data approach with and without constrains on cross-sections. The study is based on a panel data of six countries for the period between 2007-2018, (i.e., in total, we have 66 observations). Findings & Value added: The general conclusion from this analysis confirm that inward foreign direct investments in the Western Balkans, as well as real economic growth both significantly and positively affect the domestic investments.


2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Besnik Taip Fetai ◽  
Besime Fekri Mustafi ◽  
Ariana Besnik Fetai

Abstract The objective of this paper is to assess the main determinants and the policies that affect economic growth in the Western Balkan over the period 1994 to 2015. It employs techniques such as pooled OLS, fixed and random effects model, and Hausman-Taylor model with instrumental variables (IV). The study shows evidence of conditional convergence, indicating the need for an upward move in the steady state level. The results show that foreign direct investments, gross savings and domestic credit to the private sector have a positive effect on per capita growth. On the other hand, initial level of per capita growth, corruption, unemployment, and general government final consumption, have a negative relationship with per capita growth. The study also shows a puzzling result, that schooling is not a significant factor for growth in Western Balkans. The study also highlights the relevance of attracting more foreign direct investments and reduction in corruption.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-81
Author(s):  
Besime Ziberi ◽  
Merita Zulfiu Alili

Abstract This paper investigates how typical macroeconomic indicators affect the economic growth of Western Balkans countries. A static panel empirical investigation for the period 2010 to 2019 has been conducted using GDP growth rate as the dependent variable, while independent variables in focus include foreign direct investments, remittances, unemployment rate, population growth rate, and control of corruption. The most interesting finding is that a rising share of remittances positively affects economic growth. This might indicate that even when remittances are used for non-investment purposes, they might increase domestic production of consumption and intermediate goods. There is also evidence of a non-linear relationship between FDI and economic growth, which may be a consequence of undeveloped capacities to use the positive side of FDI. To foster economic growth policy-makers should focus on reforms that target sectors that show sharp declines in FDI and remittances inflows, including also a need for better control of corruption in the region.


2021 ◽  
pp. 73-86
Author(s):  
SANJA FILIPOVIĆ ◽  
JELENA IGNJATOVIĆ

As part of the “Belt and Road Initiative”, China has established a platform for cooperation in the field of investment with 11 European Union countries in the region of Central and Eastern Europe and 5 countries in the Western Balkan (CEEWB-16). In addition to infrastructure projects, China has invested in this region in the form of foreign direct investments (FDI). The aim of this paper is to estimate the importance of Chinese investments for 16 countries in the CEEWB-16 region. Analyzing the placement of funds, it can be concluded that FDI are placed primarily in the countries of the region that are members of the EU, while investments in infrastructure projects are mainly directed to the countries of the Western Balkans, primarily in the transport sector. Infrastructure projects are financed by the governments of the countries borrowing from state-owned Chinese banks, and these loans have the character of public loans, but the conditions of borrowing also have commercial characteristics. In addition, the contractors of infrastructure projects are mainly Chinese companies, which largely employ their workers and import materials from China, so that the positive effect on the debtor's country are smaller. However, as the countries of the Western Balkans have limited access to European funds and a great need to invest in infrastructure, they see these investment projects as a development opportunity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 263
Author(s):  
Бранко Ракита ◽  
Милош Шипрагић

Резиме: Предмет и циљ овога рада аутори су определили самом формулацијом наслова. У раду се указује на међависност између развијености и употребе дестинацијског маркетинга, са једне стране, и инвестиционе атрактивности појединих локацијских ентитета за међунродне инвеститоре, са друге стране. Истичу се најважније особености дестинацијског маркетинга. За разлику од већине производа који се крећу ка корисницима, дестинације су непокретне па се стога заинтересовани тржишни актери, међу којима су и инвеститори, крећу ка њима. Указује се и на најзначајније активности дестинацијског маркетинга. Заступа се теза да потенцијал дестинације не зависи толико од њеног положаја, климе и природних ресурса, колико од воље, вјештине, енергије, вриједности и организације њених људи. Стране директне инвестиције се посматрају кроз четири врсте финансијских операција: мерџере и аквизиције, нове (greenfi eld) инвестиције, докапитализацију (додатне нове инвестиције) и финансијско реструктурирање. Основни мотиви страних директних инвеститора се посматрају у контексту њихове тежње за повећањем ефективности и ефикасности пословања, те максимизирањем профита, што се сагледава кроз четири доминантне инвестиционе преокупације: доћи до природних ресурса, доћи до тржишта, доћи до стратегијске имовине, унапредити ефикасност у производњи. На подлози овако постављене концепцијске платформе, аутори су се емпиријски фокусирали на комапартивну анализу инвестиционе атрактивности земаља Западног Балкана, посебно наглашавајући релативни положај БиХ. У закључку се констатује да, поред амбијенталних, инфраструктурних, регулативних и институционалних претпоставки олакшаног и неризичног инвестирања, два најпоузданија маркетиншка параметра да је дошло до подизања инвестиционе атрактивности једне земље, или неког другог дестинацијског ентитета (региона, града, општине) јесу – добра позиционираност и достојанственост средњег слоја становништва, као и растући ниво дискреционог дохотка.Summary: The authors have identified the scope and purpose of this paper by the formulation of the title. The paper points to interdependence between the development and use of destination marketing, on the one hand, and investment attractiveness of certain location entities for international investors, on the other hand. The most important characteristics of destination marketing are emphasized. Unlike most products moving to customers, destinations are fixed and therefore interested market participants, including investors, are moving towards them. The paper also points out to the most important activities of destination marketing. It supports the thesis that potential of a destination does not depend so much on its position, climate and natural resources, as it depends on the will, skill, energy, values and organization of its people. Foreign direct investments are observed through four types of financial operations: mergers and acquisitions, new (greenfield) investments, recapitalization (additional new investments) and financial restructuring. The main motives of foreign direct investors are viewed in the context of their aspirations for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of business, and maximizing profits, which can be viewed through four dominant investment preoccupations: to get to natural resources, to get to the market, to get to strategic assets, to improve production efficiency. Based on such set conceptual platform, the authors empirically focused on the comparative analysis of investment attractiveness of the Western Balkans countries, particularly emphasizing the relative position of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is stated in the conclusion that, in addition to environmental, infrastructure, regulatory and institutional conditions of easier and non-risky investments, the two most reliable marketing parameters showing that there has been an increase in the investment attractiveness of a country or any other destination entity (region, city, municipality) are – good positioning and dignity of the middle class population, as well as a growing level of discretionary income.


2016 ◽  
Vol 86 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 242-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genc Burazeri ◽  
Jolanda Hyska ◽  
Iris Mone ◽  
Enver Roshi

Abstract.Aim: To assess the association of breakfast skipping with overweight and obesity among children in Albania, a post-communist country in the Western Balkans, which is undergoing a long and difficult political and socioeconomic transition towards a market-oriented economy. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study was carried out in Albania in 2013 including a representative sample of 5810 children aged 7.0 – 9.9 years (49.5% girls aged 8.4 ± 0.6 years and 51.5% boys aged 8.5 ± 0.6 years; overall response rate: 97%). Children were measured for height and weight, and body mass index (BMI) calculated. Cut-off BMI values of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) were used to define overweight and obesity in children. Demographic data were also collected. Results: Upon adjustment for age, sex, and place of residence, breakfast skipping was positively related to obesity (WHO criteria: OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.3–1.9; IOTF criteria: OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.4–2.5), but not overweight (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.9–1.3 and OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.9–1.4, respectively). Furthermore, breakfast skipping was associated with a higher BMI (multivariable-adjusted OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02–1.07). Conclusions: Our findings point to a strong and consistent positive relationship between breakfast skipping and obesity, but not overweight, among children in this transitional southeastern European population. Future studies in Albania and other transitional settings should prospectively examine the causal role of breakfast skipping in the development of overweight and obesity.


2007 ◽  
pp. 63-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Navoi

The article analyzes the situation with attraction of foreign direct investments (FDI) into the Russian Federation. Sharply increased inflow of international financial resources into national economy has highlighted the problem of definitions, the reasons of this phenomenon and its economic contents. The article considers methodological aspects and economic essence of modern FDI. Special accent is made on the estimation of the situation with their attraction into Russia, FDI structure and effectiveness. The conclusions about basic directions of the increase of their effectiveness in the Russian economy are formulated.


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