Attracting FDI to the Western Balkans: Special Economic Zones and smart specialisation strategies

Bartlett, Will ORCID: 0000-0002-6775-4339, Krasniqi, Besnik and Ahmetbašić, Jasmina (2019) Attracting FDI to the Western Balkans: Special Economic Zones and smart specialisation strategies. Croatian Economic Survey, 21 (2). 5 - 35. ISSN 1330-4860

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Abstract

This paper investigates the role of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the Western Balkans in supporting industrial policy for economic development. It shows that Serbia and North Macedonia have both implemented policies to establish networks of SEZs that have attracted a relatively large amount of new foreign direct investment, mainly into the motorcar and components industries. Although many jobs have been created and some improvements in export competitiveness have occurred, there is no evidence of improvements in labour productivity or widespread technology spill-over to local economies. The import intensity of production is extremely high, implying little linkage to local economies. The qualitative interviews further reveal limited linkages between SEZ-based companies and local businesses, limited technology transfer, and a lack of appropriate skills among the workforce. In particular, there is insufficient capacity in the motorcar components supply chain. The paper concludes that governments have used SEZ policies as an alternative to regional and local development policies based on smart specialisation. In order to take advantage of the opportunity offered by SEZs, governments in the region should put more effort into developing local supply chains, aligning their policies towards SEZs and smart specialisation in order to leverage the advantages of an increased inflow of direct foreign investment for sustainable economic development in the future.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.eizg.hr/croatian-economic-survey-462/4...
Additional Information:	© 2017 The Authors
Divisions:	European Institute
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe)
JEL classification:	L - Industrial Organization > L5 - Regulation and Industrial Policy > L52 - Industrial Policy; Sectoral Planning Methods O - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Technological Change; Research and Development > O38 - Government Policy O - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth > O5 - Economywide Country Studies > O52 - Europe O - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth > O5 - Economywide Country Studies > O57 - Comparative Studies of Countries
Date Deposited:	01 Dec 2022 15:06
Last Modified:	10 Feb 2024 03:06
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/117486

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