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Due to the specifics of the political and economic system in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), in the recent history of the country it has not been possible to approach the problem and challenges of economic security comprehensively and seriously. The given circumstances reinforce the need for research and analysis of economic security in BiH in order to show the real situation. This paper analyses economic security as a part of national security, with the help of relevant indicators, and then the connection of economic security with the economic development of BiH. Methods of analysis, synthesis, compilation, correlation and linear regression were applied for research purposes. The aim of the research is an empirical analysis of economic security indicators in terms of determining the degree of interconnection of key variables of economic security (public debt, availability of financial resources, technological progress, investment in fixed assets, unemployment, military investment, foreign exchange reserves, budget deficit, GDP growth rate, etc.) for the period from 2008 to 2018. The results of the research clearly reveal that economic and national security are mutually interrelated, and that economic security is a precondition for national security, which confirms the main hypothesis of this paper.

The syntagma 'national security', per se, points to the vital role that belongs to it in safeguarding the state. It is the foundation without which no society could develop economically, culturally, socially, and militarily. On the other hand, the major potential for improvement and strengthening of national security arises from the economic strength of the country. Therefore, the economic security of the state is one of the basic pillars of the national security, keeping in mind that it is unachievable without adequate economic potential of the state. The interdependence of the economic security and the national security is unbreakable, since it is not possible to establish an effective system of national security of the state without the developed national economy. The competitiveness of the economy and its economic entities in the global market is vital for the development of the national economy, since it reflects its ability to engage in the international division of labor. Macroeconomic parameters of the Serbian economy are not encouraging and are largely a consequence of its low competitiveness at micro and macro levels. Predictive observation and a deeper analysis of the economic aspect of national security refer to the need to redefine the economic model on which the Serbian economy is based. To clarify the impact of economic factors on national security, the paper proceeds from the integral discourse of an analysis of the importance of these factors. The objective of an analysis of the most important macroeconomic parameters in Serbia is a careful comprehension of the impact of the country's economic conditions on the national security. Also, an analysis of the situation of microand macro-competitiveness is used to point out the crucial influence of economic factors on the overall national security.

To achieve the security objectives and legally defined competence of the state, it is impossible without adequate economic resources. This means that economic resources are the basis of the economic and, therefore, national security of the country. By monitoring and evaluating economic indicators it becomes clear what the results of the work of the national economy are and what is expected of them. In addition, it provides feedback on the risks and threats to the likelihood of adverse economic events, that is, threats to trigger crises in the economic and political stability of a country. Evaluation of the movement of economic indicators, serves for making quality decisions in the field of strategic planning of the use of economic resources of importance for the security sector. It establishes the general and individual plans and objectives of the security entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]