The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on the Export Performance: Empirical Evidence for Western Balkan Countries

Abstract

Recently there are many authors that have studied and analyzed the impact of foreign direct investments (FDI) on the export performance. They have different opinions about the effect of foreign direct investments on the export performance. Some of them in their papers conclude that FDI have positive effect on the export performance and some not. There are also findings that FDI do not have any impact on the export performance. Of course for economic benefit of host country it is not important only the amount of FDI, but also their structure. To measure the effect of FDI on the export performance is not easy.Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to analyze empirically the foreign direct investments and exports performance during the period of 1996-2013 in Western Balkan countries. The paper also investigates for the fixed effects and individual heterogeneity across countries and years. Based on the panel regression techniques and Least Square Dummy Variable (LSDV) regression method, FDI positively affect export performance in the sample countries in various model specifications.The results and conclusions of this paper we hope that will help everybody who are interested and studying this matter, especially the policy makers. The last ones have the obligation to facilitate and promote the export if they award confirm that FDI contribute on developing their economy.