Competitiveness Of Cee Economies And Businesses

This book presents peer-reviewed, state-of-the-art conceptual and empirical papers devoted to changes in the international competitive position of the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, its countries and businesses. While the unprecedented scale of transformation in the CEE region has provided a distinct research setting for international business and economics scholars for more than two decades, there have also been recent discussions about the extent to which the region continues to have a unique business environment. The region's economies have reached different levels of market development and modern business practice adoption, with some of them now frequently classified as advanced economies. Consequently, the same level of heterogeneity among CEE countries can also be observed at the sector and business level. The contributions in this book highlight possible sources of competitive advantage for CEE countries and firms, in light of recent intensive debates about the danger of the middle-income trap and the potential solutions to it.

A product of the Framework V research project, this book addresses one of the key problems facing the EU today: Why is the ‘new’ EU so much poorer than the ‘old’, and how will EU enlargement help to solve the problem? Focusing on the productivity problems underlying the East-West gap, it looks in particular at the role that foreign investment and R&D can play in closing it. Against that background, the book assesses what role proactive development policy might play in attacking the roots of low social productivity. Concluding that there will be a clear-cut process of convergence between East and West, albeit an incomplete one, it finishes with an assessment of the patterns of competitiveness, East and West, that are likely to emerge from this process of incomplete convergence. The material is based on a rich archive of empirical material which no competing title can match, and combines in-depth interviews with standard quantitative approaches and critical policy analysis. Contents:Introduction: Productivity and Social Capability — A Historical and Analytical Framework (D A Dyker & L Iacovone)Identifying the Channels and Mechanics of FDI-Induced Technology Transfer (D A Dyker et al.)Analyzing FDI in Central-East Europe on the Basis of Sample Surveys (B Majcen et al.)Analyzing FDI in Central-East Europe Through Case Studies (D A Dyker et al.)Checking the Results of the Case Study Interviews — An Essay in Triangulation (L Iacovone & N Kofoed)Domestic Innovation Capacity — Can CEE Governments Correct FDI-Driven Trends Through R&D Policy? (S Radošević)Can EU Policy Intervention Help Productivity Catch-Up? (P Holmes et al.)Summing-Up: Productivity Catch-Up and International Competitiveness (D A Dyker) Readership: Academics, civil servants and business managers. Keywords:Central-East Europe;Foreign Direct Investment;Competitiveness;EU;East-West Productivity GapKey Features:Addresses a key policy issue facing EU, national governments and private sector managers alikeBased on a rich archive of empirical material not available in any other published sourceCombines in-depth interviews with standard quantitative approaches and critical policy analysisWritten by a team of eminent senior academics (Dyker, Holmes, Radošević, Majcen) and brilliant young researchers

This book brings together the work of researchers in Eastern and Western Europe, who analyze competitiveness, social exclusion and sustainability from a range of perspectives. It examines the key challenges faced by the EU in its efforts to establish a socially inclusive and greener path to growth and develops policy recommendations to simultaneously achieve the EU 2020 agenda’s long-term goals and address the current economic crisis in Europe.

This book analyses the key factors determining European competitiveness. It focuses in particular on the issues of internationalization of firms and markets, the role of technology and innovation, and of continuing European integration, and deals with these issues on the level of firms, industries and countries. The competitiveness of the EC as a whole, relative to the USA and Japan, is also examined. Part I deals with internationalization, the organization of firms, and the activities of multinationals in Europe. Part II focuses on trends in technological competitiveness, and its importance in growth and trade performance. Part III is concerned with structural change, the integration of the European market, competition and mergers, the role of the public sector, and the role of cultural differences. The book ends by addressing the role of industrial policy in the future of the Eastern European economies.

The success of an economy to adapt quickly, flexibly, and effectively to the demands of the changing international economic environment can only be investigated using the achievements of other national economies or regions as a benchmark. This book analyzes the fundamental factors of competitiveness, which will, in turn, facilitate economic development and growth, in the new post-crisis environment. In the economic, social, legal, and technological environment that has emerged in recent years, as well as in the period after the recent financial crisis, it is critical to define, assess, and implement new pathways to competitiveness and economic development. The book covers all aspects of competitiveness and economic growth, from financial intermediaries to tourism and the digital economy, and from regulation and corporate governance to exchange rate dynamics and monetary policy issues. It uses empirical findings from a variety of different countries with divergent economic structures and policies. It examines the new system of production, and the technological, commercial, financial and institutional environment, with the aim of recommending a proportional division of benefits and costs of economic growth. It offers a fresh, holistic, and flexible concept to underscore the new relationship between competitiveness and economic growth. Such an approach is needed, whereby competitiveness is no longer a zero-sum game between countries, but is achievable for all countries. The book recommends future directions and offers policy solutions, and as such, will appeal to students, researchers, and policymakers, as well as those interested in the role of competitiveness in the operation of markets, productivity, and economic development, and how it might foster innovation and growth.

The book of readings, Business Strategies for Economies in Transition, is a collection of papers describing various business issues as they occurred during the economic transitions in Central and Eastern European countries. The book’s sections are organized along the typical academic business disciplines – Marketing Management, Advertising, Finance and Banking and Human Resource Management. This organization allows professors from various disciplines to focus on articles within the area of their specific interest. The Maculan case is a multifaceted exercise. The scope is very broad, covering topics such as management, multi cultural environment, changing regulations, and corporate growth, to name a few. The accompanying Teaching Note gives some classroom guidance on how to approach this case. However, educators may find other issues in this case worth discussing with students. While the readings are from CEE countries, we feel that much of the material can and should be used when looking at other economies, be they in transition or in the process of economic development. There are many countries that are in one of these two stages. Many of the problems addressed in this book are relevant to developing economies. Any major change in the economic system, be that transition or development, impacts people. As such, the response of the population will directly influence the chance of a successful transformation.

The changing dynamics in the European region and beyond, the unfolding political-economic challenges across the European Union, and the rising global power of emerging economic powers require knowledge, skills, and methodological platforms inducing strategies and operations in the new and ever-changing business landscape. Geo-Regional Competitiveness in Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic Countries, and Russia seeks to address East Central Europe’s (ECE), the Baltics’, and Russia’s increasingly important roles as emerging markets and competitive economic players in the European region. This premier reference work is designated for scholars, professionals, government agencies, think tanks, and other individuals, organizations, and institutions interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the geo-regional strategic business dynamics and landscape involving ECE, the Baltics, and Russia.

What does competitiveness mean? In recent years, discussion of economic policy has become dominated by the notion of competitiveness. In this volume a group of leading economists explore the issue through cross-country comparisons and by means of single country case studies. They also examine: * the relationship between competitiveness and community objectives * the co-existence of diversity, subsidiarity and EU industrial policy * the impact of European enlargement and further integration