The International Allocation of R&D Activity by US Multinationals: The East Asian Experience in Comparative Perspective

This paper examines patterns and determinants of overseas R&D expenditure of MNEs, with emphasis on the East Asian experience, using a new panel dataset relating to US-based manufacturing MNEs over the period 1990-2001. It is found that inter-country differences in R&D intensity of operation of US MNE affiliates are fundamentally determined by the domestic market size, overall R&D capability and cost of hiring R&D personnel. The impact of domestic market orientation of affiliates on R&D propensity varies among countries depending on their stage of global economic integration. Intellectual property protection seems to matter largely for mature economies with complementary endowments. There is no evidence to suggest that financial incentives have a significant impact on inter-country differences in R&D intensity when controlled for other relevant variables. Nor is there a statistically significant relationship between the size of the capital stock of MNEs and R&D intensity of their operation across countries. Overall, our findings serve as a caution against paying too much attention by host country governments on turning MNEs affiliates into technology creators as part of their foreign direct investment policy.

East Asia in World Trade: The Decoupling Fallacy, Crisis, and Policy Challenges

This paper examines the export experience of China and other East Asian economies in the aftermaths of the global financial crisis against the backdrop of pre-crisis trade patterns. The analysis is motivated by the ‘decoupling’ thesis, which was a popular theme in the Asian policy circles in the lead-up to the onset of the recent financial crisis, and aims to probe three key issues: Was the East Asian trade integration story that underpinned the decoupling thesis simply a statistical artifact or the massive export contraction caused by an overreaction of traders to the global economic crisis and/or by the drying up of trade credit, which overpowered the cushion provided by intra-regional trade? What are the new policy challenges faced by the East Asian economies? Is there room for an integrated policy response that marks a clear departure from the pre-crisis policy stance favoring export-oriented growth? The findings caution against a possible policy backlash against openness to foreign trade arising from the new-found enthusiasm for rebalancing growth, and make a strong case for a long-term commitment to non-discriminatory multilateral and unilateral trade liberalization.global financial crisis, global production sharing, production networks, China

Global Production Sharing, Trade Patterns, and Determinants of Trade Flows in East Asia

Global production sharing—the breakup of a production process into vertically separated stages that are carried out in different countries—has become one of the defining characteristics of world trade over the past few decades. Any analysis of trade patterns or its determinants that ignores this phenomenon, and the trade in parts and components that it generates, is likely to result in erroneous conclusions. This study examines the extent and pattern of these flows, focusing on East Asia, and probes its implications for the analysis of the determinants of trade flows. World trade in parts and components increased from about 18.9% to 22.3% of total exports between 1992/93 and 2005/06. Most of this growth emanates from East Asia, with its share in total world exports increasing from 27% to 39% over the same period. There was a notable decline in Japan’s share toward the end of this period, but this was more than offset by the rising importance of the People's Republic of China (PRC). In East Asia, most of this trade is in electronics. The econometric analysis reveals that parts and components are remarkably less sensitive to changes in relative prices; as a result, the sensitivity of aggregate trade flows to relative price changes diminishes as its share increases. This implies that exchange rate policy may be less effective in balance of payments adjustment, in countries where component trade is high and growing.Global production sharing; product fragmentation trade; determinants of trade flows; exchange rate policy

Distortions to Agricultural Incentives in Malaysia

Distorted incentives, agricultural and trade policy reforms, national agricultural development, Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade, F13, F14, Q17, Q18,

Salivary levels of anti-tuberculosis drugs

The study deals with monitoring of isoniazid and rifampicin levels in saliva compared with that in serum because of various advantages including convenience and non-invasive nature of the former procedure

Genetic models for the study of luteinizing hormone receptor function

The luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) is essential for fertility in men and women. LHCGR binds luteinizing hormone (LH) as well as the highly homologous chorionic gonadotropin. Signaling from LHCGR is required for steroidogenesis and gametogenesis in males and females and for sexual differentiation in the male. The importance of LHCGR in reproductive physiology is underscored by the large number of naturally occurring inactivating and activating mutations in the receptor that result in reproductive disorders. Consequently, several genetically modified mouse models have been developed for the study of LHCGR function. They include targeted deletion of LH and LHCGR that mimic inactivating mutations in hormone and receptor, expression of a constitutively active mutant in LHCGR that mimics activating mutations associated with familial male-limited precocious puberty and transgenic models of LH and hCG overexpression. This review summarizes the salient findings from these models and their utility in understanding the physiological and pathological consequences of loss and gain of function in LHCGR signaling

Water and sediment quality management in aquaculture - Winter school on recent advances in diagnosis and management of diseases in mariculture, 7th to 27th November 2002, Course Manual

Water Quality in aquaculture encompasses all physical, chemical and biological variables that affect aquaculture production. The aquatic environment is a c6mplex dynamic system. It is subject to constant physicochemical changes due to natural causes and man's activities. The slightest deviation from the optimal level may result in stress to the cultured organisms. Stress elicits a series of physiological and behavioral responses in the organisms.If prolonged, the stress may lead to poor growth, reproductive failures besides rendering them susceptible to diseases. Most pond management procedures are aimed at improving the water quality

Shiksha : my experiments as an education minister : book review

This book outlines the education policy that the Delhi Government has espoused under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during its first tenure. Education is, has been and will continue to be an issue that arouses universal participation, be it in the form of opinion or outrage. Everyone has opinions on what should be taught, how, when and why. Schools advertise their success rates and some schools are more popular than the others for their ability to produce ‘cent per cent results’, without quite knowing or caring what happens to the students in the process

Importance of water quality in marine life cage culture

Water quality in marine life cage culture is one of the most important factors that determine production and mortality. Choice of site for marine cage culture is of paramount importance since; it not only affects water quality but also greatly influences the economic viability. Once the site is selected for marine cage culture, there is little that can be done to improve the site, if water exchange is poor