THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SERVICE SECTOR AND IT’S IMPACT ON THE BANKING INDUSTRY. THE CASE OF MACEDONIA

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to elaborate the importance of service sector and how its  future development  will affect the banking industry in the Republic of Macedonia. We live in a service society, where services sector represents more than two-thirds of economic activity and four-fifths of growth in recent years in OECD countries. This trend is evident in Macedonia also, where the service sector represents around 60% from the economic activity. Stil, because of the positive correlation with the economic development, further development will result with growth of the service sector. Further liberalization, removing product market barriers still limiting competition in various sub-sectors, allowing more FDI are factors that are indicated by experts that can contribute for further development of the service sector.Regarding banking industry in  Macedonia, service sector has the biggest share in the credit portfolio. Especialy this is due of the high exposure towards trade.Comparative analysis with developed countries shows that the share of exposure towards service sector is greather in Macedonia. This is mainly due of the lower risk of this credit portfolio, whose average riskiness is below the industry sector and agriculture.Also, in deficiency of strong industrial sector who can export its goods, Macedonian banks are turned towards wholesale and retail trade sectors. So it is expected with growth of GDP per capita in future banks to increase the loan portfolio of industry and in the same time to decrease the share of trade sector portfolio in total service portfolio.