Non-transparency is a term given in this paper to a set of government policies that increase the risk and uncertainty faced by economic actors (foreign investors). The higher in risk and uncertainty stem from the presence of bribery and corruption, unstable economic policies, weak and poorly...

In this paper we evaluate the potential benefits of international disciplines on policies towards foreign direct investment, paying particular attention to developing countries. We conclude that, at present, the case for initiating negotiations on investment policies is weak. Negotiations that...

Using a centre-two periphery new economic geography model we study the location and real wage effects of the EU’s Eastern enlargement on current and future EU member countries under pure trade integration and with migration of skilled labour. The quality of final and intermediate products...

The aim of this paper is twofold; first, to identify the variables that mostly affect rapid sales growth in Greek manufacturing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs); second, to examine the potential influence upon business growth and performance outcomes of those variables representing...

The paper aims to show the uneven process of integration of Polish manufacturing into the Single Market due to differentiational changes in competitiveness across industries (third digit level of NACE Rev. 1.1 classification) in 1996-2001. It starts with a discussion on the nature and...

We analyze industrial specialization and geographic concentration patterns within the NAFTA area during 1988-2000 and examine the determinant of spatial concentration. NAFTA countries have become increasingly dissimilar over time. A changing spatial structure of total NAFTA manufacturing is also...

Preferential trade agreements could lead to a reallocation of resources across sectors and countries. Production patterns resulting from North-North regional integration initiatives have been documented in several studies. However, empirical evidence on South-South trade agreements is limited....

After matching a rich micro-level Iranian customs dataset with a macro-level cross-country database on Iranian diaspora stocks, we establish that diaspora matters for dynamics of Iranian exporters. We document the extent to which Iranian emigrants foster exports through both intensive and...

This paper analyzes, in a linear market with two adjacent countries, how firm location and optimal plant size depend on differences in the quality of infrastructures and income levels between countries. The study considers also how a free trade agreement may change, in this context where...

In this paper we analyze the main characteristic features of foreign direct investment (FDI) directed to Spanish manufacturing, both across industries and through time, for the years 1986-1992. During this period, Spain was one of the most important recipients of FDI inflows in the world,...