Firm Heterogeneity and Choice of Ownership Structure: An Empirical Analysis of German FDI in India

We contribute to the literature on the heterogeneity of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and the relevance of firm characteristics for analyzing the determinants of outward foreign direct investment (FDI). The focus is on the role of firm-level heterogeneity when MNEs decide on the share of ownership in foreign affiliates. We combine two firm-specific datasets on German MNEs with varying equity stakes in Indian affiliates. The impact of firm characteristics on ownership shares is assessed in the context of OLS and fractional logit models, controlling for industry and location characteristics. We show that the effect of several characteristics differs between the establishment of new affiliates by German MNEs and their engagement in already existing Indian firms. Most notably, the productivity of the German parents matters only for ownership shares in new affiliates.multinational enterprises, firm characteristics, Indian locations, German FDI; ownership share

Aid-financed infrastructure promotes foreign direct investments

The link between aid and private investment is not well understood. Could aid-financed infrastructure investments encourage higher foreign direct investment? The authors present the results of a new composite index of infrastructure to estimate direct and indirect impacts of aid for infrastructure on FDI

Who benefits from aid-for-trade?

Both donors and recipients can benefit from aid, yet aid-for-trade seems to benefit the exports of middle-income countries most, rather than the developing economies for which it was designe

The crucial role of infrastructure in attracting FDI by Julian Donaubauer, Birgit Meyer and Peter Nunnenkamp

Based on a new global index on infrastructure, this Perspective shows that infrastructure is crucially important for developing countries’ attractiveness to FDI inflows. The identification of critical gaps in infrastructure strengthens the bargaining position of policymakers in these countries vis-à-vis foreign donors and multinational enterprise

Herbert Caro nas lembranças de amigos e conhecidos

This text offers statements of former colleagues and friends of Herbert Caro

Les églises pentecôtistes africaines, Satan et la dissociation de " la tradition "

RÉSUMÉLes églises africaines pentecôtistes, Satan et la dissociation de « la tradition »Les études sur l'expansion du christianisme en Afrique mettent l'accent sur les églises africaines indépendantes en tant que lieu de revitalisation des visions du monde et des éthiques traditionnelles dans la mesure où elles donnent une forme nouvelle à un contenu déjà existant. Rares sont les études portant sur les églises africaines pentecôtistes, alors que celles-ci deviennent de plus en plus populaires sur tout le continent depuis les années 1980. À partir du cas des Ewe au Ghana, nous montrons que ces églises diffèrent grandement des églises indépendantes qui fascinent les anthropologues depuis les années 1960 et 1970. Alors que ces dernières ont recours aux concepts et aux valeurs traditionnelles de manière positive et synchrétique, les premières s'en prennent à la tradition et s'opposent clairement à elle. Pour ce faire, elles ont recours à l'image du diable qui est considéré comme le maître des dieux traditionnels. L'étude montre que la revitalisation des concepts et des valeurs perdus avec la colonisation n'est pas un processus intrinsèque au mouvement chrétien de l'Afrique postcoloniale. Les églises pentecôtistes offrent plutôt des rituels qui amènent leurs membres à se dissocier symboliquement des préoccupations traditionnelles et à s'engager sur la voie de la modernité. Sur la base de cette étude, nous soulignons l'urgence de développer une nouvelle conceptualisation qui permettrait de situer ces églises en tant qu'agents dans le processus de modernisation et de globalisation.Mots clés : Meyer, église pentecôtiste, Satan, tradition, modernisation, GhanaABSTRACTAfrican Pentecostalist Churches, Satan and The Dissociation from " Tradition "Many studies of thé spread of Christianity in Africa focus on Independent African Churches which are considered to revitalize traditional world views and ethics by incorporating already existing contents into new forms. There are only comparatively few studies of African Pentecostalist Churches which have become popular ail over the continent since thé 1980s. Taking the case of the Ewe in Ghana, it is shown that these churches differ considerably from the Independent Churches which caught anthropologists' attention in the 1960s and 1970s. While the latter make use of traditional concepts and values in a positive, syncretizing way, the former adopt a harsh stance towards tradition and define themselves in strict opposition to it. In doing so, they recur to the image of the Devil who is regarded as the master of ail traditional deities. It is demonstrated that it is not intrinsic to African post-colonial Christian movements to offer a revitalization of concepts and values lost in the process of colonization. Pentecostalist Churches rather provide their members with rituals to symbolically dissociate themselves from traditional concerns and to become modem. Against the background of this case it is argued that there is need for new conceptualisations which locale these churches as active agents in processes of modernization and globalization.Key words : Meyer, Pentecostal Churches, Satan, tradition, modernization, Ghan