THE GREEK-BALKAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION DURING AND AFTER THE ECONOMIC CRISIS (2008-2018). A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GDP, FOREIGN TRADE AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT.

The main focus of this study is Greek-Balkan economic cooperation during and after the economic crisis (2008), and so a comparative analysis of GDP, foreign trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) of the Balkan countries (BCs) is presented. Using relevant literature, GDP quantitative data, foreign trade and FDI are analyzed in relation to economic cooperation during the period 2008-2018. In addition, trade balance data, volume of trade, terms of trade and FDI in BCs and Greece are examined. This paper analyzes the impact of the crisis on GDP, trade balance, post-crisis evolution of FDI and the impact of the crisis on Greek foreign trade with the other BCs. Within the framework of Greek-Balkan economic cooperation, FDI development in Greece and the BCs during and after the crisis is discussed and correlated with GDP, foreign trade and FDI changes. The main findings suggest that during the early crisis years all metrics declined for all BCs, including Greece, but in the following years showed signs of recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]