Is there a structural improvement in the merchandise exports of the Balkan countries in the period 2000-2012?

Ekonomski Anali

关键词: Balkan countries;    similarity coefficients;    skill-intensive manufactures;    exports;    imports;    structure;    2000-2012;    EU;    U.S.;   

DOI  :  10.2298/EKA1396099N

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The value of indicators of the similarity of Balkan countries’ export andimport structures to those of developed countries grew only mildly, whichindicates that the unfavourable structure of exports has been retained. Whilesimilarity coefficients increased in the period until and including 2012,they failed to reach a critical turning point as in advanced Europeancountries in transition. In practically all Balkan economies, since 2000 thetechnological intensity and the factor intensity of foreign trade havechanged toward an increased share of highly-processed products, but the shareof skill-intensive manufactures remained almost two times smaller than indeveloped economies. An aggravating factor was the continual strongdouble-digit growth of exports in most Balkan countries, which ‘ forced’exports based on the existing inappropriate structure and prevented a changein export structure. Balkan countries would have to attract FDI in exportsectors that are capital- or skilled labour- intensive. A targeted industrialpolicy and sector- and firm-level strategies are necessary to give momentumto a shift towards technology-intensive activities, associated with higherspillover effects. It is realistic to expect that the evolution of theeconomic system through restructuring would additionally improve the stillunfavourable structural characteristics of Balkan countries’ exports.

【 授权许可】

Unknown