Assessing privatization investment opportunities in Thailand

Executive Summary Multinational corporations (MNCs) can find lucrative opportunities to invest in emerging‐market countries by participating in the privatization of state‐owned enterprises. The ability of MNCs to form joint ventures or acquire state enterprises in most countries, however, depends on the characteristics of the government's privatiza‐tion policies and plans, the pace of their implementation, and the mechanisms allowed for foreign investment. In order to assess the feasibility of privatization policies in emerging‐market countries, and especially those undergoing dynamic reforms of their economies, MNCs need a framework for analyzing privatization efforts. The appli‐cation of such a framework is illustrated using the experience with privatization and economic reform in Thailand. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The emergence of corporate governance in Russia

This article tracks the emergence of corporate governance through four stages of the Russia’s transition to a market economy from the mid-1980s to the present: commercialization, privatization, nomenklatura, and statization. For each stage, the government’s economic objectives are summarized, as well as the foundations for the development of and inhibitors to corporate governance. The problems of nondisclosure and nontransparency that made Russia one of the riskiest countries for investment are discussed. The article emphasizes the substantial progress made recently, culminating in the 2002 Corporate Code of Conduct. The article concludes with prospects for corporate governance to be considered by investors, including foreign executives and managers interested in direct investment in Russia.     

Modern Russian corporate governance: convergent forces or product of Russia’s history?

Does Russian corporate governance in the new millennium amount to a gradual evolution towards US-style corporate governance, or can it be expected to continue to reflect historical institutions and national culture? When multinationals complain about State interference in firms’ strategies and operations, can this be a permanent state of affairs, or is the situation likely to change?After 1991, Russia, in the middle of a huge crisis, embarked on a program of mass privatization, ostensibly with a view to creating full, market-based corporate governance, with open information disclosure, and enterprise ownership by outside investors having no relationship with the firm other then through their shares. In practice, however, it has become clear that a very different pattern has emerged, especially in manufacturing industries with relational investors, including managers and employees, as well as banks and other firms linked horizontally or vertically, little share liquidity. There is continued hostility towards active western and other genuinely ‘outside’ investors, and persistently strong State influence. This paper argues that this outcome can only be understood in the context of business history.     

An empirical investigation of immigrant effects: the experience of firms operating in the emerging markets

The immigrant effect consists of the ‘employer’ and the ‘employee’ effect. This study focuses on the ‘employee’ effect. Existing studies on the immigrant effect have identified its contributions to international trade and international marketing management but have not explained under what circumstances this effect can be used to achieve a firm's objectives when operating in a foreign market. This study explores the profile of the firms which have used this effect to assist their operations in three foreign host markets (China, Hong Kong and Taiwan). Based on the outcomes of a multivariate logistic regression analysis, this study has generated a number of useful findings. Firm size is not suggested as a factor for the selection of immigrant effects. Firms are more likely to adopt an immigrant effect when their products are new to the markets. FDI mode users tend to be more likely to use the immigrant effect. Usage of immigrant effects is also found to be associated with firms from a smaller domestic economy. The immigrant effect is often used to break cultural barriers between home and host markets, but is more helpful when the marketing infrastructure in the home and host markets is similar. The choice of immigrant effect is suggested to have no influence on firms' performance in the host markets.     

The Virtues and Weaknesses of Insider Shareholding

Abstract

Following privatization in Russia, insider shareholders secured supremacy in their companies in most cases. The literature concerned with corporate governance in Russia frequently shows too much affection to the claim that the arrangement when control is allocated to insiders is generally sub-efficient in the long run. It is often concluded that the current pattern of control has negative impact on the progress of reforms. This paper argues in favor of a more balanced view, which takes into account the social responsibility of firms towards stakeholders and the influence the latter have over corporate performance. The question addressed is how real the insiders' threat is in privatized Russian enterprises with regard to the advancement of reforms and development of the workable corporate governance system.     

Privatisation and local governments in Mainland China: A critical assessment

Local authorities in China have already privatised most of their small and medium-sized state-owned enterprises (SOEs) following the endorsement of this policy by the 15th Communist Party Congress in September 1997. Their incentives for doing so, however, are often to be found in rent-seeking rather than in the desire to increase competition or attract foreign direct investment. Profound economic and institutional reforms will be required if “market-preserving” incentives are to become the dominant ones in China’s transition process.     

Does services liberalization benefit manufacturing firms?: Evidence from the Czech Republic

While there is considerable empirical evidence on the impact of liberalizing trade in goods, the effects of services liberalization have not been empirically established. This study examines the link between services sector reforms and the productivity of manufacturing industries relying on services inputs. Several aspects of services liberalization are considered, namely, the presence of foreign providers, privatization and the level of competition. The results, based on firm-level data from the Czech Republic, show a positive relationship between services sector reform and the performance of domestic firms in downstream manufacturing sectors. Allowing foreign entry into services industries appears to be the key channel through which services liberalization contributes to improved performance of manufacturing sectors. This finding is supported by evidence that foreign acquisitions of Czech services providers result in profound changes in the labor productivity and sales of acquired firms. As most barriers to foreign investment today are not in goods but in services sectors, the findings of this study may strengthen the argument for reform in this area.     

俄罗斯加入WTO后黑龙江省企业对俄投资策略研究

中国作为与俄罗斯有着悠久合作历史的邻国,在俄企业投资规模却很小,远远落后于西方国家。黑龙江省作为中国与俄罗斯接壤的一个大省,具有很强的对俄投资优势。俄罗斯加入WTO后投资环境的改善对于黑龙江省的企业发展以及黑龙江省的经济发展来说都是一个难得的机会。应当把握住这一历史机遇,认真研究俄罗斯加入WTO后黑龙江省企业对俄跨国投资的策略,把黑龙江省的企业推向世界,做大做强。     

A Study of Management Attitudes in Chinese State-Owned Enterprises,Collectives and Joint Ventures

Since 1978 China has introduced a series of reforms that has gradually moved its economy away from planning and towards more market-based resource allocation. State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) have been permitted to set market prices, retain profits after tax and employ factors of production much more freely than before. Private-sector firms have been allowed, and joint ventures with foreign firms encouraged. At the same time, continued political intervention in the management of enterprises may be dulling incentives for management to operate commercially. This study reports the results of research based on structured interviews with senior managers in 16 corporatized and non-corporatized SOEs, collective enterprises and joint ventures in Shanghai and Nanjing. The fieldwork was undertaken between October and December 1995, to shed light on the extent to which management attitudes had changed in recent years following the reforms, and to confirm whether there were noticeable differences in attitudes between managements in the various types of enterprises. The research also considers the current relationship between plant management and government bureaus, and management attitudes towards privatization.     

网络产业的市场结构重组、民营化与网络瓶颈

在传统体制下,电信、电力、铁路运输、管道燃气、自来水等网络产业基本上是由国有企业垄断经营的。因此,以促进竞争为导向的市场结构重组与民营化是这些网络产业改革的两大主题。但网络产业的改革必然凸现网络瓶颈,这要求政府制定与实施有效的接入管制政策。     

以投资替代贸易应对贸易保护主义

金融危机的爆发及其后续影响,使贸易保护主义在全球范围内重新盛行,给我国对外经济带来了不利影响和重大挑战。目前,国际投资环境优良,中国经济持续稳定增长,政府为我国企业对外投资提供了很多优惠政策和条件,我国已经发展了一批在国际市场上具有竞争力的企业,为我国实施以投资替代贸易的战略提供了坚实后盾,以投资替代贸易对我国一些有竞争力的企业来说,具有较强的可行性。为更好地实施对外直接投资战略,需要综合考虑投资的产业选择、区位选择和主体选择。政府应更好地引导企业制定相关投资战略,为企业走出去提供制度支持、资金支持及人才支持;各企业应根据所投资地区的地理及文化特点,考虑所在产业的优势及劣势,利用自身竞争力实施对外直接投资。     

Effective Company Taxation in Poland – Some Methodological Considerations and Empirical Results

The tax burden imposed on enterprises is frequently asserted to be an important determinant of a country’s prospects in the global competition for market shares and foreign investment. The best way to measure effective company tax rates is controversial, however. The following paper examines the situation in Poland using various indicators and compares it to that in the EU-15.     

Ethical Entrepreneurship and Fair Trade

Due to several recent scandals, Business Ethics is now firmly embraced. Whereas in the 1980s and early 1990s there were serious doubts expressed about combining ethics and business, the link now seems to have become self-evident. Fundamental questions about the tensions between business and ethics however continue to receive little attention. In this paper, based upon a debate concerning the Fair Trade company, the strains between business and ethics are analyzed. The article shows how several great thinkers have already considered this tension. Three ways to conceptualize the tension between business and ethics have been distinguished, and these are outlined in the paper. In one approach, ethical entrepreneurship, value tensions are perceived as a source for entrepreneurship. However, this approach presupposes pluralistic ethics. Thinking only in terms of black and white is seen as blocking the ability to adequately handle the tension between business and ethics. Opting for ‘‘ethical entrepreneurship’’, as by Fair Trade, has fundamental and important consequences for the company’s communication policy.     

Consumer perceptions of risk and uncertainty and the implications for behaviour towards innovative retail services: The case of Internet Banking

Research on the consumer perceptions of innovative offerings has tended to focus on products as opposed to services. Perceived risk has generally not been awarded a major role while uncertainty, which is viewed here as distinct from risk, has for the most part been disregarded. The study reported in this paper strives to identify some of the major risks and uncertainties associated with a new service, Internet Banking, during the early stages of its market development. The empirical research involved a qualitative study of a small sample of consumers and a survey of both adopters and non-adopters of Internet Banking. The survey employed a traditional research instrument, which involved the presentation of pre-identified risks and uncertainties. It was possible to identify several major ‘risks’ as well as ‘uncertainties’. We raise questions about whether or not the anxieties and concerns identified by such a process of consumer research are true reflections of the major influences affecting consumer behaviour towards new retail services. The adoption of a ‘perceived risk’ stance as against one founded on the view that consumers may lack certainty about outcomes and consequences has implications for both theory and practice.     

中美贸易摩擦下外向型企业的应对与政策诉求--基于2019年“降成本”调查的分析

本文以2019年"降成本"调查为基础,从外向型企业视角考察中美贸易摩擦对中国经济发展的影响与冲击。研究发现,短期内中美贸易摩擦的负面效应相对有限,但其将通过增加生产经营环境的不确定性而在中长期产生较大的不利影响。外向型企业通过减少生产、分摊成本、加大研发投入等方式予以积极应对,但这些措施存在双重不确定性:一是市场留给企业实现转型升级的时间窗口并不明确;二是企业的自发应对可能给国民经济带来就业压力增加、产业链断裂、传统产业创新发展受阻、对外依赖度增大等风险。因此,各级政府应从外向型企业的迫切诉求着手,通过深化改革、加强服务、完善政策等为企业创造公平、稳定、可预期的发展环境,以自身高质量发展来应对内外部冲击的挑战。     

融资约束与我国企业对外直接投资——基于浙江省微观企业数据的实证研究

企业对外直接投资是我国当前重要的外向经济发展战略,因此探明其影响因素对于深化对外开放具有重要意义。文章在此背景下从微观企业角度研究融资约束如何影响企业对外直接投资,构建理论框架阐明融资约束的提升会制约劳动密集型企业的对外直接投资决策,但是会逆向促进资本密集型企业的对外直接投资决策;在此基础上,通过匹配《中国工业企业数据库》和《中国境外投资企业（机构）名录》中的浙江省企业数据在微观上验证了理论推论。进一步地,分样本数据回归表明国有企业、外资企业和重工业企业对外直接投资不受融资约束制约,而非国有企业、非外资企业和轻工业企业对外直接投资受融资约束影响明显。此外,文章通过零膨胀回归和排序数据回归发现较低（高）的融资约束增加了劳动（资本）密集型企业的对外直接投资项目数并加快其投资决策时间,与对外直接投资倾向的影响机制一致。     

Doing business in South Africa

This survey of the South African business environment outlines the major transformations the country has experienced since 1994. The economy has been restructured, which enhanced fiscal and monetary discipline as well as domestic and global competitiveness. The general business climate has been improved, but continued progress requires (1) prioritization of social issues such as HIV/AIDS, employment, and crime and (2) accelerated privatization, market reforms, and clarity about black economic empowerment. Such changes may stimulate inflation‐rate reduction, foreign exchange stability, and an increase in foreign direct investment. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Financial Liberalisation and Growth in China’s Economic Reform

This paper summarises China’s financial liberalisation experience and examines the contributions of financial resources on economic growth during the post‐reform period. Financial liberalisation has resulted in the reallocation of the four sources of total investment in fixed assets: state budget appropriation, national bank loans, self‐raised funds, and foreign investment. We find that the growth of GDP and industrial production are positively related to the growth of self‐raised funds and foreign investment. We conclude that the use of foreign investment and funds raised by the enterprises themselves are more efficient than the government’s appropriation and provision of bank loans.     

Firm value and its relation to equity retention levels, forecast earnings disclosures and underpricing in initial public offerings in Hong Kong

This study helps extend our understanding of the factors underlying the valuation of initial public offering (IPO) firms within the Hong Kong market context. The issues investigated are all the more important given Hong Kong's unique position in China, where free and unfettered capital markets entice global institutions wishing to partake in the ‘China investment story’. We find support for three signals of initial firm value: the fraction of equity retained by pre-listing stakeholders [Leland, H., & Pyle, D. (1977). Information asymmetries, financial structure and financial intermediation. Journal of Finance, 32, 371–387], the voluntary disclosure of a prospectus earnings forecast [Trueman, B. (1986). Why do managers voluntarily release earnings forecasts. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 53–71] and the amount of funds ‘given-up’ through IPO underpricing [see Allen, F., & Faulhaber, G. R. (1989). Signalling by underpricing in the IPO market. Journal of Financial Economics, 23, 303–323; Grinblatt, M., & Hwang, C. Y. (1989). Signalling and the pricing of new issues. Journal of Finance, 44, 393–420; Welch, I. (1989). Seasoned offerings, imitation costs, and the underpricing of initial public offerings. Journal of Finance, 44, 421–449]. Moreover, the signals appear robust to different firm valuation measures (i.e., market-to-book and Tobin's Q) and to the inclusion/exclusion of PRC state-owned H-share issuers.A number of other important contributions also emerge. First, we develop a new measurement form for the pre-listing shareholders’ equity retention level (α) by decomposing it to reflect differential effects from primary and (‘voluntary’ and ‘involuntary’) secondary offers. We further show that after accounting for listing rule effects—which partially drive the choice of the retained equity level in the Hong Kong setting—the equity retention-firm value relation is seen with much greater clarity.In a later stage of analysis we deepen the signal-firm value findings by relating the three signals to post-IPO earnings. We note a positive association between the fraction of equity retained by pre-listing owners and earnings growth. However, this association weakens somewhat beyond the first two accounting year-ends post-listing. Significantly, earnings appreciation appears markedly weaker for issuers going to market with a secondary offer component within their overall IPO. Finally, consistent with Jain and Kini's [1994. The post-operating performance of IPO firms. Journal of Finance, 49(5), 1699–1726] US evidence, IPO underpricing appears to have little or no association with post-listing earnings.     

进一步鼓励我国私企“走出去”

私营企业“走出去”参加经济全球化是不可避免的。从对外投资理论上的启示、外部环境的分析以及私营企业自身具备的条件三个方面,得出进一步鼓励和支持我国私营企业积极“走出去”参加跨国经营的结论。