STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OECD INTERNATIONAL TRADE NETWORK AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Trade interactions between states, through the exchange of resources and goods and their concomitant social interactions, contribute to enhancing the productive process, spreading technology, and promoting social, institutional, and diplomatic engagements, serving as a long-standing pillar of economic, regional, and cultural development. In this context, this paper examines the economic interdependence created by international trade in the modern global economy, exploring the emerging economic and spatial structures of global trade flows using complex network analysis. This paper focuses on trade interactions and spatial connections among 42 OECD countries, analyzing the structural mechanisms through which each country participates in international trade across different levels of transaction intensity, each representing different scales of economies. Assuming a positive correlation between the intensity of trade exchanges and national economic development, and that the degree of integration into global trade networks contributes to the strengthening of economies of scale, this study calculates network topology and centrality measures, conducting analysis at three levels of network structure: microscopic (local, node-level), mesoscopic (community-level), and macroscopic (global, network-wide). Each level provides distinct perspectives and insights into how interactions among countries shape the global economic landscape. The findings highlight important aspects of strategic cooperation and potential risks in international trade, emphasizing that international trade and economic interdependence, while supporting global development and prosperity, can also act as a source of economic vulnerability during global financial crises.

Stamatia ALMALIOTI - Researcher, Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece, malmalioti@gmail.com

Dimitrios TSIOTAS - Associate Professor, Department of Regional and Economic Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece, tsiotas@aua.gr (Corresponding Author)

F14, O19, R12, R15

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN REAL ESTATE AND ITS IMPACT ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ALBANIA

This study explores the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the real estate sector on the development of tourism in Albania over the past decade. The analysis draws on data reflecting investment trends and key tourism dynamics, revealing a clear relationship between the expansion of FDI and the growth of both tourism revenues and international arrivals. The findings demonstrate that foreign capital has played a pivotal role in enhancing tourism infrastructure, expanding accommodation capacity, and modernizing services, thereby positioning Albania as an increasingly attractive destination in regional and international markets. Beyond its direct economic impact, FDI has generated important secondary effects for the tourism sector, including improvements in service quality, diversification of tourism products, and strengthened competitiveness in comparison with neighboring destinations. These investments have also delivered broader socio-economic benefits, such as job creation, stimulation of local businesses, and increased fiscal revenues, further reinforcing the role of tourism as a key driver of sustainable national development. The study argues that sustaining these positive outcomes requires consistent public policies, supportive regulatory reforms, and favorable market conditions. Only through an inclusive and regionally balanced approach can foreign investment in real estate continue to support long-term, sustainable tourism growth in Albania. In this regard, FDI is not merely a financial flow but a strategic tool for transforming the tourism sector, ensuring that development is aligned with the country’s broader economic and social objectives.

Antoneta POLO - Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, "Eqrem Çabej" University, Gjirokastra, Albania neta_polo@yahoo.com

Fejzulla BEHA - Professor Assistant, Departament of Business and Management, Universum International College, Pristina, Kosovo fejzulla.beha@universum-ks.org

Enkela CACA - Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, "Eqrem Çabej" University, Gjirokastra, Albania ebabaramo@yahoo.com

Ilirjana ZYBERI - Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, "Eqrem Çabej" University, Gjirokastra, Albania izyberi@yahoo.com

F21, R33, L83