Foreign direct investments and the dynamics of trade and capital flows: Schumpeterian insights for sustained development

This article analyses the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) in trade and development theory and outlines the resulting implications for economic policy. We propose an alternative model of international trade and development based on absolute, not comparative advantages of firms, which are nested in countries but compete internationally. Applying a Schumpeterian theory of dynamic development, we consider how firms can either increase their competitiveness through productivity gains at a given wage level, or by combining the existing high level of productivity with lower wages in low-income countries. We argue that the aim of competition policy must be to improve the quality of economic competition in international markets, limit monopoly rents and disincentivise rent-seeking activities through the mere outsourcing of production. To that end, we propose that economic policy must reinstate rigorous wage bargaining regimes and make FDI subject to wage conditionality, obliging foreign companies to increase their wages in the host economy in line with average national productivity growth and the national inflation target

No exit from the euro-rescuing trap?

This paper attempts a normative assessment of the input and output-oriented legitimacy of the present euro-rescuing regime on the basis of policy analyses examining the causes of present crises, the available policy options, and the impact of the policies actually chosen. Concluding that the regime lacks input-oriented legitimacy and that its claim to output-oriented legitimacy is ambivalent at best, the paper explores potential – majoritarian or unilateral – exits from the present institutional constellation that is characterized by the synthesis of a non-democratic expertocracy and an extremely asymmetric intergovernmental bargaining system.Die hier präsentierte normative Bewertung der input- und outputorientierten Legitimität des gegenwärtigen Euro-Rettungs-Regimes stützt sich auf empirisch fundierte Aussagen zu den Ursachen der Eurokrise, den prinzipiell verfügbaren Politik-Optionen und den Wirkungen der gewählten Politik. Im Ergebnis wird eine inputorientierte Legitimation verneint, während die outputorientierte Bewertung höchst ambivalent erscheint. Im Schlussteil untersucht der Text mögliche – majoritäre oder einseitige – Auswege aus einer institutionellen Konstellation, die ein nicht demokratisches Expertenregime mit inem extrem asymmetrischen intergouvernementalen Verhandlungsregime verbindet

Monetary Policy in China (1994-2004): Targets, Instruments and Their Effectiveness

China's monetary policy disposes of two sets of monetary policy instruments: Instruments of the central bank, the People's Bank of China (PBC) and non-monetary policy instruments. Additionally, the PBC's instruments include price-based indirect and quantity-based direct instruments. The simultaneous usage of these instruments leads to various distortions that ultimately prevent the interest rate channel of monetary transmission from functioning. Moreover, the strong influences of quantity-based direct instruments and non-monetary policy instruments question the approach of indirect monetary policy in general

Permanent and Selective Capital Account Management Regimes as an Alternative to Self-Insurance Strategies in Emerging-Market Economies

Currency market intervention-cum-reserve accumulation has emerged as the favored selfinsurance strategy in recipient countries of excessive private capital inflows. This paper argues that capital account management represents a less costly alternative line of defense deserving renewed consideration, especially in the absence of fundamental reform of the global monetary and financial order. Mainstream arguments in favor of financial globalization are found unconvincing; any indirect benefits allegedly obtainable through hot money inflows are equally obtainable without actually tolerating such inflows. The paper investigates the experiences of Brazil, Russia, India, and China (the BRICs) in the global crisis and subsequent recovery, focusing on their respective policies regarding capital flows

Der Euro Als Triebfeder Des Deutschen Exports?

Die ausufernde Verschuldung insbesondere der südeuropäischen Mitgliedstaaten stellt die Europäische Währungsunion (EWU) derzeit vor große Herausforderungen. Während über lange Zeit Einigkeit darüber herrschte, den vollständigen Erhalt der Währungsunion mit einem milliardenschweren Rettungsschirm zu sichern, wurden jüngst erste Forderungen nach einem Austritt Griechenlands aus dem Euroraum laut. Insbesondere in Deutschland wird befürchtet, dass ein Austritt einzelner Länder oder gar ein kompletter Zerfall der Währungsunion mit großen ökonomischen Nachteilen verbunden wäre. So wird argumentiert, dass gerade Deutschland aufgrund seiner hohen Exportorientierung und jahrelanger Lohnzurückhaltung mehr als alle anderen EWU-Mitgliedsländer vom Euro profitiere. Vor diesem Hintergrund untersucht der vorliegende Beitrag, welche Konsequenzen ein Austritt einzelner Länder aus der Währungsunion und damit verbundene Veränderungen der preislichen Wettbewerbsfähigkeit auf die deutschen Ausfuhren in diese Länder hätte. Im Ergebnis zeigt sich, dass sich ein Austritt Irlands, Griechenlands, Spaniens und Portugals kaum negativ auf die deutschen Exporte auswirken würde. Ein kompletter Zerfall der Währungsunion und eine Wiedereinführung nationaler Währungen dürfte dagegen, aufgrund der nach wie vor recht hohen Bedeutung des Euroraums als Absatzmarkt für deutsche Produkte, den Exportzuwachs spürbar dämpfen.The excessive accumulation of debt especially in the southern member states currently challenges European Monetary Union (EMU). Whereas for a long time, preventing a break-up of EMU was indisputable, in the meantime, voices were being raised claiming a withdrawal of Greece from the currency union. Especially in Germany, a withdrawal of individual members from the currency union (or even a complete break-up of EMU) is associated with economic disadvantages. Particularly, it is argued that EMU is of greatest utility for Germany due to the countries' longstanding wage moderation and strong export orientation. Against this background, this paper analyzes the effects of a withdrawal of individual member states from the currency union on German exports. Thereby, it is assumed that a withdrawal of those countries from EMU would be accompanied by real devaluations. As the analyses show, the impact of a withdrawal of Ireland, Greece, Spain and Portugal from the currency union on German exports would be rather small. However, since European Monetary Union as a whole is still the most important foreign market for German manufacturers, a complete break-up of EMU could noticeably weaken German export performance

Nutzlose Wechselkurskorrekturen?

Die Kontroverse innerhalb der Linken über den Euro geht weiter. Der Unterschied zwischen internen Abwertungen und Wechselkursanpassungen gehe gegen Null, so Klaus Busch, Axel Troost, Gesine Schwan, Frank Bsirske, Joachim Bischoff, Mechthild Schrooten und Harald Wolf. Eine Replik