1st INFER Workshop on International Economics

in Co-operation with the Center for EUropean Studies (CEUS) at WHU Koblenz

Foreign Direct Investment
Theory, Empirical Evidence and Policy Implications

May 16, 2003, in Vallendar, Germany

 

Conference Topics

Worldwide FDI flows again reached record levels in 2001. FDI remains the main driver of the expansion of the international production system. Forging linkages between foreign affiliates and domestic firms is a main challenge for policy-makers in developing countries in order to benefit from FDI as much as possible. FDI is an important means of diffusing knowledge, information and skills from foreign investors. In a technology and skill driven world, this can contribute to increasing the efficiency and growth potential of the host economy and such benefits can be enhanced through appropriate policies. Therefore, governments can play an important role in creating the conditions that attract FDI and in maximizing the positive contribution that FDI can exert on development. In addition, the question arises which effects does FDI have in industrialised countries as home countries? Especially, what do FDI figures imply for competitiveness, growth, and labour markets in the countries of origin?

Programme

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Check In (incl. selection of lunch preferences)

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Introduction
Michael H. Stierle, INFER and Michael Frenkel, CEUS at WHU Koblenz

9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Session I: General Economic Issues of FDI

Döhrn, Roland, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (RWI), Essen, Germany:
Investment Abroad and Home Employment in the German Manufacturing Sector

Stierle, Michael H. European Commission, Bruxelles, Belgium (with Jan Juretzka, Oppenheim Research, Köln, Germany):
The Accelerator Theory in a New Light: FDI and Business Cycles

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Session II: FDI and Central and Eastern European Countries
Maslichenko, Sergiy, University of Oxford, United Kingdom:
Foreign Direct Investment in the Central and Eastern Europe: Empirical Evidence and Policy Implications

Zigman, Ante, Raiffeisenbank Croatia (with Hrvoje Dolenec and Zvonimir Savic):
FDI Development And Influence On Investments And Consumption In CEE Countries

12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Lunch

1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Session III: FDI and Developing Countries
Nguyen, Hoa, Center for Development Research (ZEF), Bonn, Germany:
Contribution of Foreign Direct Investment to Poverty Reduction: The Case of Vietnam in the 1990s

Zhang, Jianhong, Groningen University, The Netherlands (with George Jiang):
Determinants of FDI Intensity: the Case of China, Groningen University

Spatz, Julius, Kiel Institute for World Economics, Kiel, Germany (with Peter Nunnenkamp):
Determinants of FDI in Developing Countries: Has Globalization Changed the Rules of the Game?

3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Coffee Break

3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Session IV: FDI and Advanced Economies
Sadowski, Bert M., University of Technology Eindhoven, The Netherlands, (with Cees van Beers):
The Innovation Performance of Foreign Affiliates: Evidence from Dutch Manufacturing Firms

Sturm, Jan-Egbert, Center for Economic Studies & Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Munich, Germany (with Monika Ruschinski):
Foreign Direct Investment and Growth: Panel Data Evidence for 22 OECD Countries

4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Final Discussion

Publication

The papers presented at the conference will be published in a conference volume in the summer of 2003.

Location

The workshop was hosted by WHU Koblenz, Germany.

Organisation of this workshop