From Quantity to Quality: Challenges for Investment Promotion Agencies

Most investment promotion agencies worldwide are now placing a higher emphasis on attracting high "quality" FDI, including R&D centers and headquarter functions as well as knowledgeintensive industries such as information and communication technologies, biotechnology or nanotechnology. We argue that this requires a different approach than policies focused on the "quantity" of FDI inflows, leading to changes in the policy mix and in the approach to performance measurement. Targeting quality entails a shift from a mindset that prioritizes attraction of greenfield investments towards one where the focus is on subsidiary development. Another implication is that the interplay between FDI policies and innovation policies becomes more relevant and needs to be further nurtured. We focus on the management challenges that investment promotion agencies face in this transition from quantity to quality, drawing attention to the consequences for their human capital, structural capital and relational capital strategies.Aftercare, FDI, intellectual capital, investment promotion, R&D, subsidiary development

From export processing to knowledge processing: upgrading the FDI promotion toolkit

Many emerging countries that formerly focused on attracting FDI through export processing zones are now trying to use FDI to develop international science hubs. Considering the experiences of Singapore and Chile, this Perspective discusses how FDI promotion policies need to be upgraded in order to contribute to this policy agenda

欧盟需要建立一个投资促进机构

笔者提出一个欧盟的“近期行动计划”，该计划协调促进外国直接投资，并且在区域范围内支持外国投资者

从出口加工到知识处理：升级FDI促进工具

Many emerging countries that formerly focused on attracting FDI through export processing zones are now trying to use FDI to develop international science hubs. Considering the experiences of Singapore and Chile, this Perspective discusses how FDI promotion policies need to be upgraded in order to contribute to this policy agenda

Sincerity is a dangerous thing: On how appropriability regimes shape innovation strategies

Since the pioneeringwork of David J. Teece ("Profiting from technological innovation: Implications for integration, collaboration, licensing and public policy", Research Policy 15, 1986), the concept of "appropriability regime" -defined as the level of threat stemming from potential imitators in the firm's environment- has been useful in describing specific sectoral patterns at the aggregate level. However, there have been few attempts to formally prove the impact of different regimes on knowledge management strategies at the firm-level. Using firm-level longitudinal data from software and hardware sectors in Spain, we show that differences in appropriability regimes condition the profitability of open innovation strategies, and also induce specific patterns in firms' knowledge management strategies. More specifically, we show that the appearance of diminishing returns from an open innovation strategy is more accelerated in firms immersed in weaker regimes (i.e. firms facing more threats from potential imitators). We also show that this is due to the fact that such firms must resort to more complex (and costly) practices that go far beyond the legal protection of intellectual property, internalizing other management practices related to productive capacity and the commercialization of innovations.Inter-University Cooperation Projects UAM-Santander with Latin Americ

Could preoperative short-course radiotherapy be the treatment of choice for localized advanced rectal carcinoma?

Short-course preoperative radiotherapy (RT) is widely used in northern Europe for locally advanced resectable rectal cancer, but its role in the era of advanced imaging techniques is uncertain. Here, we reviewed articles and abstracts on SCRT published from 1974 through 2013 with the goal of identifying patients who might be best suited for short-course RT. We included relevant articles comparing surgery with or without preoperative radiation published before and after the advent of total mesorectal excision. We also analyzed two randomized trials directly comparing short-course RT with conventionally fractionated chemoradiation (the Polish Colorectal Study Group and the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group) that compared short-course RT with conventional chemoradiotherapy. We conclude from our review that short-course RT can be generally applied for operable rectal cancer and produces high rates of pelvic control with acceptable toxicity; it reduces local recurrence rates but does not increase overall survival. SCRT seems to be best used for tumors considered “low risk,” i.e., those that are >5[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]cm from the anal margin, without circumferential margin involvement, and involvement of fewer than 4 lymph nodes. Whether sequential chemotherapy can further improve outcomes remains to be seen, as does the best time for surgery (immediately or 6–8 weeks after RT). We further recommend that selection of patients for short-course RT should be based on findings from magnetic resonance imaging or transrectal ultrasonography

Reported stigma and discrimination by people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia

Aims. This article examines the extent of stigma and discrimination as reported by people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The hypothesis is that when people express in their own words the discrimination they experience such discrimination will be found to be widespread.Methods. Seventy-five people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia from 15 different countries were interviewed with a mixed methods instrument to assess reported discrimination. The data were analysed for frequency counts and then a thematic analysis was performed. A conceptual map is provided.Results. The study was a cross-cultural one but, contrary to expectations, few transnational differences were found. The main hypothesis was supported. Conversely, we found that when participants reported ‘positive discrimination’, this could as easily be conceptualised as being treated similarly to how others in society would expect to be treated.Conclusion. Negative discrimination is ubiquitous and sometimes connotatively very strong, with reports of humiliation and abuse. ‘Positive discrimination’ conversely indicates that people with a mental illness diagnosis expect discrimination and are grateful when it does not occur. The literature on self-stigma is discussed and found wanting. Similarly, the theory that contact with mentally ill people reduces stigma and discrimination is not fully supported by our results.<br/

Chapter 25. International investment arbitration: winning, losing and why

Succinct yet insightful reports are most welcome – especially in our era, distracted as it is by a rising tide of shallow commentary. For those who care about foreign direct investment (FDI), the premier reports are Columbia FDI Perspectives, published every few weeks by the Vale Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment. Since the first issue (here republished as chapter 2) appeared in November 2008, the Perspectives have adhered to a format of about two pages, authored by a leading expert, on an FDI question of immediate interest. Consequently, there is no better way to keep abreast of changing trends and emerging themes. Chapter 2 carries the prescient title, “The FDI recession has begun”; several issues (chapters 9-13) document the ascent and challenges of multinational enterprises based in emerging markets, particularly Brazil, India and China; chapter 6 explores farm deals in Africa with the provocative title, “Land grab or development opportunity?”; chapter 1 reveals that emerging markets would attract more than half of FDI in the midst of the Great Recession; chapters. 29 and 30 debate the arbitration featuring environmental claims between Pacific Rim LLC and El Salvador; chapter 22 surprisingly reports that general counsels often know little and care less about bilateral investment treaties. Fortunately for FDI watchers, these issues of the Perspectives and many more – in fact the complete collection through 2010 – are now available in a single eBook. Corporate executives, who always have too much to read, will find this eBook essential for a quick briefing. Scholars, who always want to read more, will find the eBook a great place to start their quest. And policy officials, who want to know how the wind is blowing on hot questions, can find the direction from these Perspectives. Much credit for this collection goes to the editor-in-chief, Karl P. Sauvant, the world’s pioneer in gathering reliable statistical information on foreign direct investment, a lifelong observer of FDI questions and a foremost scholar of multinational enterprises. Together with his team at the Vale Columbia Center, Sauvant has done a great service to those of us who care about FDI trends and emerging themes.https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/facsch_bk_contributions/1390/thumbnail.jp

Chapter 25. International investment arbitration: winning, losing and why

Succinct yet insightful reports are most welcome – especially in our era, distracted as it is by a rising tide of shallow commentary. For those who care about foreign direct investment (FDI), the premier reports are Columbia FDI Perspectives, published every few weeks by the Vale Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment. Since the first issue (here republished as chapter 2) appeared in November 2008, the Perspectives have adhered to a format of about two pages, authored by a leading expert, on an FDI question of immediate interest. Consequently, there is no better way to keep abreast of changing trends and emerging themes. Chapter 2 carries the prescient title, “The FDI recession has begun”; several issues (chapters 9-13) document the ascent and challenges of multinational enterprises based in emerging markets, particularly Brazil, India and China; chapter 6 explores farm deals in Africa with the provocative title, “Land grab or development opportunity?”; chapter 1 reveals that emerging markets would attract more than half of FDI in the midst of the Great Recession; chapters. 29 and 30 debate the arbitration featuring environmental claims between Pacific Rim LLC and El Salvador; chapter 22 surprisingly reports that general counsels often know little and care less about bilateral investment treaties. Fortunately for FDI watchers, these issues of the Perspectives and many more – in fact the complete collection through 2010 – are now available in a single eBook. Corporate executives, who always have too much to read, will find this eBook essential for a quick briefing. Scholars, who always want to read more, will find the eBook a great place to start their quest. And policy officials, who want to know how the wind is blowing on hot questions, can find the direction from these Perspectives. Much credit for this collection goes to the editor-in-chief, Karl P. Sauvant, the world’s pioneer in gathering reliable statistical information on foreign direct investment, a lifelong observer of FDI questions and a foremost scholar of multinational enterprises. Together with his team at the Vale Columbia Center, Sauvant has done a great service to those of us who care about FDI trends and emerging themes.https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/facsch_bk_contributions/1390/thumbnail.jp