Long-run economic growth represents a precondition for the development of the Western Balkans countries. Continuous investments are required to achieve high rates of economic growth, while investments sources are national savings and foreign investments. The national savings level in the Western Balkans (W.B.) is not sufficient to finance radical changes, so external sources, in particular foreign direct investment (F.D.I.), are necessary for the development, as well as the official development assistance (O.D.A.). In view of the European intentions for the Western Balkans Region and the level of economic relations with the European Union, this paper seeks to explore the European Union (E.U.) investments and W.B. development. Results of the panel analysis and V.A.R. model show a statistically significant relationship between G.D.P. per capita and the length of the road network and E.U. investments. This confirms the significance of these development variables for the inflow of investment from the E.U. Panel analysis, explanatory variables of trade openness and signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the E.U. did not prove to be significant for E.U. investments inflow. A statistically significant relationship does not exist between the unit labour costs and investments from the E.U. when applying a causality test.

COVID-19 pandemic has caused the deepest crisis since the World War II. Many countries have slid into recession due to continuous GDP fall. Lockdown has an impact on unemployment growth, while the provision of health systems and state aid to vulnerable sectors and population are deepening fiscal deficits. Based on the example of 31 European countries (27 EU members and several countries with which the Union has different agreements), this research determines impact of key economic and social variables in period of the First wave of COVID-19 pandemic on the “Economic stimulus”, which is represented by composite index CESI. It is about a combination of variables: Democracy Index, Stringency Index, Final Consumption, Gross Investment, Health Expenditure, and Hospital Beds per Thousand People. Using the median method, the total sample has been divided into two groups, the one with less and the one with more infected people. The results of cross section regression analysis show that 52% variations in the Economic stimulus in the total sample is determined by predictor variables in the model. Analysis for the countries with less infected people shows that more than 75% variations in the Economic stimulus is determined by joint trends of the predictor variables, while the Analysis with more infected cases shows coefficient of determination (R2) over 71%. In general, the results of econometric analysis unambiguously show that democracy contributes to the economic policy response to pandemic in all three observed cases. Stringency index contributes to democracy in an inversely proportional sense, especially in the case of countries with larger number of infected persons. The same could be said for the variable Final Consumption in the case of the total sample of countries, where markedly reduced final consumption requires stronger economic reaction and the governmental aid of all the countries included in the sample.

Accumulation of knowledge, the role of education and innovations in the stimulation of economic development are important for understanding the endogenous theory of growth. The aim of this paper is to determine the strength and direction of relations between independent variables of education, technological development, innovations, foreign investments and the economic growth of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The relations between variables are assessed by multiple regression analysis for the period 2005 - 2017. GDP per capita (pc), as a measure of general wellbeing and economic development is a dependent variable of the regression model. Education Years Average, Technological readiness and Innovations are explanatory variables, whereas Foreign investments and Macroeconomic environment are control variables. The results indicate statistical significance of variables Education Years Average, Technological readiness and Innovations. The first two variables indicate a positive effect on the economic development, whereas Innovations have a negative effect on the economic development. The control variables are statistically insignificant. Therefore, more investment is recommended in the field of education, science and research. Institutions should be more developed and scientific-research systems should be harmonized with the European Union. It is the only way for B&H to be able to respond to global challenges when it comes to competitiveness, export and the GDP growth. Examples and experiences of this country can be useful for research activities in similar post-transition countries.

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