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Ekspansja korporacji transnarodowych w latach 1990-2013
No full textThe paper traces the expansion of transnational corporations (TNC), with a particular focus on their foreign subsidiaries, economic position and the key sectors in which they were involved from 1990 to 2013. The author asks three fundamental questions: 1) What significant changes occurred in the process of TNC expansion during this period? 2) Is the importance of TNCs from developing and transition economies growing? 3) What are the future prospects of TNC development in the global economy? The paper is the result of a study of literature on the topic and UNCTAD statistical data. The author formulates a thesis that the role of TNCs from developing and transition economies in foreign direct investment (FDI) has grown since the 1990 s, while the proportion of TNCs from developed countries has shrunk. This testifies to the growing investment power of corporations from developing and transition economies, and it also means that global competition will increase in the future, the author says. According to the author, the main conclusions from the conducted analysis are as follows: 1) TNC expansion is intensifying, as reflected by an increased number of corporations and their subsidiaries abroad as well as their stronger economic position; 2) TNC from developing and transition economies play an increasing role in foreign investment; 3) In 2011, the value of FDI inflows to developed countries equalled that of FDI inflows to developing and transition countries; 4) Over the past decade, TNCs from Asia, especially China, have participated in many mergers and takeovers, achieving a positive net balance of acquisitions (versus the net balance of sales posted by corporations from developed countries such as the United States, Britain and Germany); 5) It is anticipated that global competition between TNCs will escalate because corporations from developing and transition countries aspire to maintain their fast-growing potential, while corporations from developed countries are seeking to regain their pre-crisis growth dynamics
An Analysis of Labour Use Pattern in Thirappane Village Tank Cascade System in Sri Lanka: Determinants and Potential Effects of Off-farm Employment
Full text linkParticipation in off-farm employment is a strategy adopted by farmers in many developing countries to increase and stabilize their incomes. However, empirical evidence on its effects on management of natural resources is context specific. This study examines the pattern on labor use with special emphasis on determinants and potential effects of participation in off-farm employment by the villagers reside in Thirappane tank cascade system in Sri Lanka. Data gathered from a primary survey conducted among 134 households were used for analysis. The results of probit models revealed that the farmers who possess agricultural assets have a higher probability of joining employment in other-farms and those who are educated and own large farms participate in non-farm sector employment. Community management of the village tank cascade systems will be challenging owing to the increased interest in off-farm activities by the able
Paradoks Solowa i determinanty wdrożenia technologii informacyjnych i telekomunikacyjnych
No full textThe paper presents the main arguments that explain the causes for a productivity paradox formulated by American economist Robert M. Solow in 1987 in connection with the rapid development of information and communication technology. The paper discusses the conditions that need to be met to support the growth of productivity related to the use of ICT, particularly in developing countries. The analysis is based on a literature review focusing on the Solow paradox. It argues that there are two prerequisites to “see” a positive impact of ICT on productivity statistics: the time necessary for the completion of learning-by-doing processes, and the existence of ICT complementarities. ICT complementarities usually include changes in workplace organization and business processes, coupled with investment in human capital, foreign direct investment and the creation of an entrepreneurship-friendly institutional environment. The main conclusion from the analysis - in the context of how developing countries take advantage of ICT investment to accelerate the convergence process – is that special attention should be paid to ICT complementarities. They are a key determinant of a productive use of ICT. Research studies reviewed in the article show that it is not enough to simply invest in ICT capital stock (through investment in hardware and software) in order to materialize the benefits of ICT. Complementary investments are also necessary, mainly in human capital, changes in workplace organization at the enterprise level, and investment in intangible assets
Weaponizing Anti-dumping
Full text linkInternational trade policy appears to be entering a new phase. The existing rules of trade did not allow the imposition of trade policy instruments for non-trade reasons. Countries are now increasingly weaponizing trade policy to achieve non-trade objectives (i.e. incentivizing countries to control outward migration, to reduce the cross-border drug outflows, increase defense spending, reduce trade surpluses). Anti-dumping is one trade policy which can be used to achieve such non-trade ends. One example is the threat to open an anti-dumping investigation against Canadian canola in retaliation for the imposition of one hundred percent tariffs on Chinese-made electronic vehicles. The suitability of anti-dumping actions for use in achieving non-trade ends is explored in this article
Monopolizacja władzy a wyniki gospodarcze na poziomie Polski lokalnej
Full text linkThe article analyzes the effects that the monopolization of power has on various socioeconomic processes in rural areas in Poland. Using a simple econometric model, the authors compare areas in which the same individuals were in power from 1990 to 2010 with areas where such a monopoly of power was not in evidence. The article looks at how these two types of rural districts differ from each other in terms of unemployment, the structure of the local budget, and the participation of citizens in local elections. The empirical results suggest that the monopolization of power at the local level does not significantly affect economic outcomes. However, power monopolies seem to translate into declining voter turnout. Taken together, these results raise questions about the functioning of political selection mechanisms and about the potential risk of local elites capturing the political system
Trade as an Option for Managing the Impacts of Supply Risks in Coconut Production: Importation of Dehusked Coconuts, Copra and Kernel
Full text linkThe Sri Lankan coconut industry is facing intense competition due to increasing demand from local consumption and export processing while fresh nut production is stagnating. The situation is aggravated during weather extremes especially with prolonged droughts. The recent prolonged drought of nearly two years was the cause for temporary closure of processing industries and soaring nut prices. It may take more than a year to re-establish normal yield even with the onset of rainfall in October. Therefore, importation of coconuts as a strategy was explored in this study. An Equilibrium Displacement Model (EDM) was used to quantify the possible economic impact and its distribution among industry stakeholders. The results indicated that allowing imports is economically viable for the processing industries to recover their losses. Under the simulated scenarios where input substitution is a policy condition to be zero, reducing the costs of processing of desiccated coconut through fresh nut importation reduces the losses to the processors and exporters from 15.5 LKR million per year to about 5.5 LKR million per year. Consumers of desiccated coconut exports are also better off by around 45 LKR million under the above scenario of a price reduction of fresh nuts from 43 LKR to 32 LKR. However, still there are concerns for the existence of markets produced from foreign material and export substitution. Moreover, the compliance with the quarantine regulations especially for the risk of pest and disease outbreaks remains unresolved. Therefore, dehusked-coconut importation is still not an option for a severe coconut shortage while other semi-processed products may remain potential alternatives
Dokąd zmierzał system gospodarczy Polski w latach 1995–2012?
Full text linkThe aim of the paper is to assess how the principles of the competitive order were implemented in Poland during the country’s economic transition in 1995–2012. To accomplish the research tasks, the principles of the competitive order developed by German economist Walter Eucken were adopted as a reference model. This made it possible to determine just how close Poland’s economic order was to the ideal model during the studied period. An analysis of selected indicators shows that the competitive order in the Polish economy in 1995–2012 only to a limited extent corresponded with the desirable model.The greatest failures in Poland’s economic order could be observed in areas such as price elasticity, responsibility for business results, economic policy stability, and the freedom of contract. Considerable progress was observed in the implementation of the rules of the competitive order in areas such as stability in the value of money, private ownership of means of production and open markets
Sytuacja finansowa klubów Ekstraklasy w ujęciu metody DEA
No full textThe aim of this article is to determine the financial standing of Polish Ekstraklasa premier-division soccer clubs. The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model is applied to study technical efficiency ratios based on financial ratios describing the clubs’ financial condition. Statistical and econometric analyses were carried out in order to assess the relationship between performance indicators and the financial situation of the clubs, specifically their liquidity, profitability and debt. This study shows that there is a strong relationship between the condition and efficiency of the clubs. This finding was confirmed by the results of an analysis of the effectiveness of clubs as well as regression analysis. The clubs are classified into two groups: effective and ineffective. Highly effective clubs are in a significantly better financial position than ineffective ones. The current liquidity ratio was the best discriminator separating the clubs into the two groups and having the greatest impact on their growing effectiveness as the three basic financial indicators were analyzed. The impact of the two other indicators, profitability and debt, was much smaller. The discriminant function results were used to determine the financial standing of Ekstraklasa clubs in the 2014/2015 season
Znaczenie prawnej ochrony zatrudnienia dla elastyczności zatrudnienia w krajach OECD
No full textThis article explores the impact of employment protection legislation on the elasticity of employment with respect to GDP. We present the essence and scope of changes in employment protection and specify the theoretical mechanisms of its impact on the labor market. We also measure this impact using data for 23 OECD countries in the 2002-2014 period. In the short term, we should expect the existence of a non-linear (U-shaped) relationship between the level of employment protection legislation (EPL) and the elasticity of employment. In the long term, however, EPL is perceived as neutral for the level of employment as flexible wages enable employers to accommodate changes in the labor market situation. The hypothesis of the long-term neutrality of EPL for labor market categories was confirmed with the use of panel cointegration tests. The hypothesis concerning the impact of EPL on short-term labor market adjustments was confirmed only for the global crisis period
Ryzyko kursowe jako przeszkoda w działalności eksportowej. Wnioski z Polski
Full text linkThe focus of the paper is on identifying major factors that can determine the vulnerability of Polish manufacturing companies to exchange rate risk. In order to verify our hypotheses, we have estimated logistic regression models based on a unique database to assess internal and external factors that make companies vulnerable to exchange rate risk. Our observations confirm the importance of exchange rate variability as one of the obstacles to starting and conducting export activity as well as expanding it to new markets. We have found that exchange rate risk is particularly severe for companies that are financially constrained and get financing abroad as well as those whose balance sheets are negatively affected by devaluation. Also vulnerable are innovative firms and those that rely more on input imports. Exchange rate volatility appears to be less of a concern for foreign-owned companies and enterprises that have higher shares of euro-denominated receivables and invoice exports in the Polish zloty. Companies competing by means of product quality and distribution channels are also among those less vulnerable to exchange rate risk. Generally, we have confirmed the problem of exchange rate risk as an important cost to export activity. This gives some implications for exchange rate risk management at both the macroeconomic and microeconomic levels as well as for monetary integration