Print

Print


View this email in your browser
<https://mailchi.mp/law/perspective-261?e=dd153d6a25>

哥伦比亚大学国际直接投资展望中文版都可以在我们的网站查看:
http://ccsi.columbia.edu/publications/columbia-fdi-perspectives.
<https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=98c3ffb717&e=dd153d6a25>
*Columbia FDI Perspectives*
Perspectives on topical foreign direct investment issues
No. 261  September 23, 2019
Editor-in-Chief: Karl P. Sauvant ([log in to unmask])
Managing Editor: Alexa Busser ([log in to unmask])
*FDI has benefitted the EU members from Central and Eastern Europe *
*and can continue to do so*
<https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=76553ca3e7&e=dd153d6a25>
*** <#m_1514894112593706461__edn1>
by
Zbigniew Zimny** <#m_1514894112593706461__edn2>

Since opening to FDI in the early 1990s, the eleven European Union members
from Central and Eastern Europe (EU-11) have attracted sizeable FDI flows.
From a zero level, MNEs now play important roles in these economies. While
this may be seen as excessive dependence and disconcerting to some, FDI has
had a significant net positive impact and is indispensable for continued
economic progress for years to come. This message and resulting policy
conclusions differ from those presented in Laza Kekic’s *Perspective*.[1]
<#m_1514894112593706461__edn3>

The list of benefits (and costs) that need to be considered to assess FDI’s
impact on host countries can be long, as firms—domestic and foreign—affect
most aspects of economic life. Yet, some benefits are more important than
others: if they are critical for economic development, can be obtained
mainly from MNEs, are on a scale making a difference, and come at a
relatively modest cost to the economy. They include productivity, exports
and upgrading of economic activities through a shift from traditional, less
productive, to modern, more productive activities.

On these metrics, FDI has greatly benefited the EU-11 countries. In 2016,
foreign affiliates contributed on average:[2] <#m_1514894112593706461__edn4>

   - 40% to the value added of EU-11 business economies; in Hungary,
   Slovakia, Romania, and Czechia, the share was much higher.
   - 54% to the manufacturing value added, including more than 70% in
   Slovakia and 60% in Hungary, Czechia and Romania.
   - Nearly 60% to exports, including most of the exports of Hungary and
   Slovenia (around 80%) and of Romania (nearly 70%). Their share of
   manufacturing exports was higher in all countries. Overall, the EU-11
   countries avoided de-industrialization owing to FDI.

Foreign affiliates in all EU-11 countries exhibited 80% higher labor
productivity and offered 55% higher wages than domestic firms in 2016. They
were more productive across industries, reflecting the transfer of superior
technology and managerial and organizational practice from parent
companies. The productivity advantage means that, if a foreign affiliate
and a domestic firm both invest a dollar, the GDP growth resulting from
foreign investment is 80% higher, and the subsequent gains are shared with
their workers to a greater extent.

The indirect impact of FDI on the productivity of domestic firms is less
straightforward. However, with the emergence and maturing of private
domestic enterprises since the late 1990s, research started showing net
positive productivity spillovers, especially through backward linkages, in
several EU-11 countries.[3] <#m_1514894112593706461__edn5> There has also
been an upgrading of manufacturing and exports by foreign affiliates toward
high- and (mainly) mid-technology industries. The rapid expansion of
foreign business centers in the past decade exemplifies both FDI and
services sector upgrading. The centers employ overwhelmingly tertiary
graduates, export their services and increasingly deal in R&D, IT
programming and other more advanced tasks. In several EU-11 countries,
foreign manufacturing assemblers have added service centers, including
large stand-alone R&D units, thus broadening the participation of these
countries in global value chains.

The average rate of return on inward FDI in the EU-11 countries was 10% in
2015-2017, much higher than the interest rate for international loans, an
alternative source of external investment financing. But out of every 10
dollars of MNE profits, only half was transferred abroad; the other half
was reinvested. Thus, the real cost to the economy was 5%.[4]
<#m_1514894112593706461__edn6> Given that this is not only remuneration for
capital but also for technology, management, marketing, and access to
international markets, this cost is moderate.

A growing number of EU-11 domestic firms are developing or acquiring and
mastering technology, and gaining and maintaining access to foreign
markets. However, domestic firms will not drive out FDI in manufacturing
and business services exports in the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, there
is further scope for FDI in the EU-11 countries to contribute to income
convergence through productivity convergence. For now, despite recent wage
increases due to low unemployment, EU-11 countries remain competitive in
terms of wage costs.

Beyond that, whether FDI can lead to sustained income convergence with
developed economies depends on government policy. It is difficult to say
whether the EU-11 have the policy capability to emulate the success of
Ireland and Singapore, which joined the group of high-income countries,
relying heavily on FDI. Minimum sound policy would be to continue to
attract export-oriented FDI to more advanced activities; encourage existing
foreign affiliates to modernize and upgrade, including through incentives;
and support domestic enterprises wherever feasible and provide them with
opportunities for international expansion. “Developing growth strategies
that do not depend so overwhelmingly on FDI” in activities critical for
economic development, as suggested by Kekic, would be rather difficult.
Governments can order state-owned enterprises to buy foreign banks or power
companies, but they can do close to nothing to design replacements for the
Volkswagens, Samsungs, Michelins, Microsofts, or IBMs of this world.

------------------------------
* <#m_1514894112593706461__ednref1> *The Columbia FDI Perspectives are a
forum for public debate. The views expressed by the author(s) do not
reflect the opinions of CCSI or Columbia University or our partners and
supporters. Columbia FDI Perspectives (ISSN 2158-3579) is a peer-reviewed
series.*
** <#m_1514894112593706461__ednref2> Zbigniew Zimny ([log in to unmask])
is Professor of Economics at Vistula University in Warsaw, Poland. The
author is grateful to Khalil Hamdani for his useful comments and to Ewa
Kaliszuk, Alexey Kuznetsov and Magdolna Sass for their helpful peer reviews.
*[1]* “To what extent has FDI benefited the transition economies of Central
and Eastern Europe?”, *Columbia FDI Perspectives*, No. 236, October 8, 2018
<https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=6c93a59fe8&e=dd153d6a25>
.
[2] <#m_1514894112593706461__ednref4> Author’s calculations, based on Eurostat,
Structural Business Statistics
<https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=c6731884e2&e=dd153d6a25>
.
[3] <#m_1514894112593706461__ednref5> For example, Martin Bijsterbosch and
Marcin Kolasa, “FDI and productivity convergence in Central and Eastern
Europe: An industry-level investigation,” *European Central Bank* *Working
Paper Series*, No. 992, January 2009.
[4] <#m_1514894112593706461__ednref6> Author’s calculations, based on OECDStat
FDI Statistics
<https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=690a9cf875&e=dd153d6a25>
.
*The material in this Perspective may be reprinted if accompanied by the
following acknowledgment: “Zbigniew Zimny, ‘FDI has benefitted the EU
members from Central and Eastern Europe and can continue to do so,’
Columbia FDI Perspectives, No. 261, September 23, 2019. Reprinted with
permission from the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (*
*www.ccsi.columbia.edu*
<https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=77243a30f9&e=dd153d6a25>*).”
A copy should kindly be sent to the Columbia Center on Sustainable
Investment at [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>.*

For further information, including information regarding submission to the
*Perspectives*, please contact: Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment,
Alexa Busser, [log in to unmask]

*Most recent Columbia FDI Perspectives*
<https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=f222a03c4d&e=dd153d6a25>


   - No. 260, Karl P. Sauvant, ‘Do not neglect establishment trade: the
   China-US example,’ September 9, 2019
   - No. 259, Howard Mann and Martin Dietrich Brauch, ‘Investment
   facilitation for sustainable development: Getting it right for developing
   countries,’ August 26, 2019
   - No. 258, Carlo de Stefano, ‘How to limit treaty shopping,’ August 12,
   2019

*All previous FDI Perspectives are available at *
*http://ccsi.columbia.edu/publications/columbia-fdi-perspectives/*
<https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=f298c6c063&e=dd153d6a25>
*. *

*Other relevant CCSI news and announcements*

   - CCSI released its 2018-2019 Annual Report
   <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=657d5dcead&e=dd153d6a25>
   .
   - *On September 26, 2019*, our Fall 2019 International Investment Law
   and Policy Speaker Series, co-sponsored by Baker McKenzie and Arnold &
   Porter, continues with a talk by *Paolo Di Rosa*, Partner & Head of
   International Arbitration Practice Group, Arnold & Porter. *Please see
   our website
   <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=198bc9f788&e=dd153d6a25>
for
   more information and the full schedule*.
   - *On November 18, 2019*, CCSI, the Center for Chinese Legal Studies,
   and the Society for Chinese Law (SCL) will co-host a talk by *Angela
   Zhang*, Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for
   Chinese Law, University of Hong Kong, on “The US-China Trade Negotiation: A
   Contract Theory Perspective.” *Please see our website
   <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=2fc6170812&e=dd153d6a25>
   for more information.*

Karl P. Sauvant, Ph.D.
Resident Senior Fellow
Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Columbia Law School - Earth Institute
Ph: (212) 854-0689
Fax: (212) 854-7946
*Copyright © 2019 Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), All
rights reserved.*
[log in to unmask]

*Our mailing address is:*
Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI)
Columbia Law School - Earth Institute, Columbia University
435 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10027

Add us to your address book
<https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/vcard?u=ab15cc1d53&id=a61bf1d34a>


unsubscribe from this list
<https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=ab15cc1d53&id=a61bf1d34a&e=dd153d6a25&c=87ba2dc0cb>
update subscription preferences
<https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/profile?u=ab15cc1d53&id=a61bf1d34a&e=dd153d6a25>


[image: Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp]
<http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=monkey_rewards&aid=ab15cc1d53&afl=1>


-- 




*Karl P. Sauvant, PhD*


*Resident Senior Fellow*
*Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment*
Columbia Law School - The Earth Institute, Columbia University
435 West 116th St., Rm. JGH 825, New York, NY 10027
| p: (212) 854 0689 | cell: (646) 724 5600 e: [log in to unmask]
| w: www.ccsi.columbia.edu | t: @CCSI_Columbia
<https://twitter.com/CCSI_Columbia>


"An Advisory Centre on International Investment Law: key features", "Do not
neglect establishment trade: the China-US example", "Incentivizing
sustainable FDI: The Authorized Sustainable Investor", "The potential
value-added of a multilateral framework on investment facilitation for
development", "Promoting sustainable FDI through international investment
agreements", "Determining Quality FDI", "The State of the International
Investment Law and Policy Regime", "Towards G20 Guiding Principles on
Investment Facilitation for Sustainable Development", "Five Key
Considerations for the WTO Investment-facilitation Discussions, Going
Forward", "International Investment Facilitation: By Whom and for What?",
"Moving the G20's Investment Agenda Forward", "Sustainable FDI for
Sustainable Development", "Towards an Investment Facilitation Framework:
Why? What? When?", "Beware of FDI Statistics!", "Towards an Indicative List
of FDI Sustainability Characteristics", and "The Evolving International
Investment Law and Policy Regime: Ways Forward" *are* available at
https://ssrn.com/author=2461782 and
http://www.works.bepress.com/karl_sauvant/.

____
AIB-L is brought to you by the Academy of International Business.
For information: http://aib.msu.edu/community/aib-l.asp
To post message: [log in to unmask]
For assistance:  [log in to unmask]
AIB-L is a moderated list.