Journal of Risk and Financial Management Article Financing Growth through Remittances and Foreign Direct Investment: Evidences from Balkan Countries Esmeralda Jushi 1, Eglantina Hysa 1 , Arjona Cela 1, Mirela Panait 2,3,* and Marian Catalin Voica 2 1 Department of Economics, Epoka University, 1032 Tirana, Albania;
[email protected] (E.J.);
[email protected] (E.H.);
[email protected] (A.C.) 2 Department of Cybernetics, Economic Informatics, Finance and Accounting, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, 100680 Ploiesti, Romania;
[email protected] 3 Institute of National Economy, 010374 Bucharest, Romania * Correspondence:
[email protected] Abstract: The ultimate goal of central banks, worldwide, is to promote the foundations for sustainable economic growth. In the case of developing economies, in particular, such objective requires time, huge efforts, attention, and plenty of resources in order to be accomplished to the fullest degree. This paper thoroughly investigates key factors affecting Balkan countries’ economic development (as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) growth), focusing especially on the impact of remittances. The analysis was done over an 18-year time interval (2000–2017) and builds on 144 observations. The data figures were retrieved from the World Bank database while two dummies were created to test the impact of the last financial crisis (2008–2012). Econometric tools were employed to carry out a broad analysis on the interdependencies that exist and, in particular, to determine the role of remittance income on growth. The vector auto regressive model was estimated using EViews software, and was used to come up with relevant insights.