Although the EC’s Generalized System of Preferences has been in force since July 1, 1971, vagueness still prevails with regard to the question to what extent the system has contributed to the lowering of tariff barriers and of what service it has thus been as a tool for the promotion of...

The telecommunications sector is a powerfully growing market which is expected to play a key role in the EC of the future. This article offers a survey of the liberalization measures envisaged in this formerly heavily protected sector followed by an analysis of their economic effects on both EC...

The growing importance of Japan on the world market has brought with it changes in the international division of labour and a shift in the focus of the expansion in world trade away from the EC and the USA. What factors determine the shares of the EC, the USA and Japan in international trade?...

Many commentaries on the present economic situation contend that Germany is increasingly “exporting jobs” rather than producing competitive goods and services. Can Germany continue to compete effectively with other business locations in the battle for mobile investment capital?

This article offers a contribution to the topical discussion of multinationals. It describes the quantitative and qualitative identification criteria for these enterprises and analyses the internationalisation process of German firms.

In the context of the New International Economic Order (NIEO) the developing countries are expressing more and more frequently a wish for stricter control over the multinational enterprises. What should be the features of a Code of Conduct for Multinationals?

The Asian Pacific countries do not only show unparalled growth dynamics, they are also in the process of growing ever closer together. There is already talk of the creation of a new economic bloc. The following article analyses private direct investment in the Asian Pacific area, an element in...

Global investment strategies have become a central issue in international business and in international economics. The worldwide stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) can be estimated at over US $ 1500 billion in 1990—three times the value of the 1980 stock. The following article discusses...