Getting Stronger After COVID-19: Nearshoring Potential in the Western Balkans

Balša Ćulafić, Martin Gaber, Mahdi Ghodsi, Belma Hasić, Muela Ibrahimi, Branimir Jovanovic, Sophia Kluge, Ognjenka Lalović, Marko Mandić, Ravik Mima, Sanja Nikolova, Antoaneta Manova Stavreska, Olga van Zijverden and Jelena Vasić

No 453, wiiw Research Reports from The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw

Abstract: This study aims to analyse whether and how the Western Balkan economies could benefit from near-shoring trends after the COVID-19 pandemic. It begins by discussing recent trends in foreign investment, and then presents an econometric analysis of determinants of foreign direct investment in the Western Balkans and East Asia. This is followed by a set of surveys, interviews and case studies, of different actors involved in global supply chains and investment, including foreign companies that have invested in the Western Balkans, foreign companies that are considering investing in the Western Balkans, local companies from the Western Balkans, and investment promotion agencies from these economies. The study concludes that Western Balkan economies can indeed benefit from near-shoring trends in the post-pandemic world, but would have to go beyond low labour costs in order to achieve that. Putting a focus on skilled labour, investment in education and training, improving infrastructure and governance would be the most important things to do. This Publication has been replaced by a revised version on 24 June 2021.

Keywords: FDI; near-shoring; global value chains; Western Balkans; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E22 F21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 121 pages including 32 Tables, 39 Figures and 6 Boxes
Date: 2021-05
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