Strategic decision making and influence of economic freedoms on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Decision making on foreign direct investment (FDI) is a strategic decision for the country, the company, but also the individual, which is strategic. Where to invest, how and when, certainly depends on economic conditions and economic freedoms. Foreign direct investments represent a value of 357 million euros in 2019, representing a significant factor in the overall development of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Expectations of an increase in the level of foreign investment are also based on the level of economic freedoms. The research results show a significant impact and positive correlation of economic freedoms on strategic decisions on foreign direct investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The role and importance of the impact of economic freedoms on strategic decisions on foreign direct investment became especially important in the conditions of the COVID 19 coronavirus pandemic, when strategic decisions were coupled with even greater risks and sensitivity. The COVID-19 pandemic affected foreign direct investment in the world and expectations regarding the trend of foreign direct investment in BiH. According to preliminary data from the Central Bank of BiH for the first half of 2020, FDI is lower by 46.7% compared to the same period in 2019. Foreign direct investment in less developed countries such as BiH will be under additional pressure in 2020/2021, due to the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic. The decline in global foreign direct investment in 2020 and 2021 is estimated at 30-40% as a result of the pandemic. The results of the research cover the period from 1998 to 2020, and show the existence of a positive correlation between these variables. The analysis used an econometric model of multiple correlation analysis Pearson Correlation.