POLICY BRIEF Foreign Direct Investments and Exports: Kosovo and the Western Balkans

15.01.2018 Agon Nixha

There is plenty of empirical work that intends to examine the determinants of sustained growth in developing economies over the recent years. Among a great array of political, legal, and social aspects, it is commonly admitted that Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and exports constitute two important factors that contribute to the economic growth of developing economies. The positive effects of FDI net inflows occur in many ways. Provided that in developing economies the saving rates are relatively low, FDI helps in increasing investments, leading, among other things, to the creation of new jobs and generation of tax revenues. In addition, FDI provides access to advanced technology that has a positive role in enhancing total factor productivity and factor incomes. With the investments of foreign firms in the recipient economy, modern technology and know-how is spread through various formal and informal linkages and exchanges, thus helping labors to improve their productivity. Moreover, international competitiveness resulting from FDI net inflows allows the host economy to increase exports and improve the balance of payments, and, in many instances, relieving international finance constraints to economic growth.2 Finally, FDI, through all its direct and indirect contributions, can serve as a major driver of enterprise restructuring as well as overall economic restructuring.