The Economic Impacts of Turkish Accession to the European Union

Half a century has passed and Turkey is no further toward achieving EU membership. Under the mandate of the Barcelona Declaration, EU–Turkish industrial tariffs will be abolished, whilst agro‐food protectionism remains largely intact. Consequently, the direct impacts from a hypothetical EU accession scenario will be concentrated in agro‐food sectors, whilst their share of economic output in Turkey implies ‘secondary’ macro impacts. To this end, a computable general equilibrium (CGE) framework is employed to quantitatively reassess full Turkish accession. Unlike previous CGE studies, agriculture, fishing and food sectors are disaggregated, whilst significant advancements to the ‘standard’ model code are incorporated to capture the vagaries of agricultural factor, input and product markets. In addition, a realistic ‘baseline’ scenario is constructed including ‘up to date’ trade and domestic agricultural policy reforms prior to Turkish entry to the EU. The results show that trade‐led gains in Turkey are moderated due to tariff liberalisation prior to EU entry, whilst Turkey receives significant budgetary transfers from the CAP budget, which are ‘mirrored’ as EU‐27 costs. With additional migration effects, Turkish (EU‐27) production possibilities fall (rise), whilst real income per capita rises (falls).     

Business and Professional Ethics in Transitional Economies and Beyond: Considerations for the Insurance Industries of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary

This paper examines several key aspects of the ethical environment facing the insurance industries of Poland, The Czech Republic and Hungary as they complete the transition from Communist insurance systems built upon state-owned monopolies to viable private domestic insurance markets, and then seek to harmonize their markets with the single insurance market of the European Union. Since many types of ethical problems encountered during the transition are unlikely to diminish significantly as a result of either privatization or regulation of the insurance markets of these countries, measures are identified that should help to improve the ethical environments of these markets.     

Determinants of entry strategies of U.S. companies into Russia,the Czech Republic,Hungary, Poland,and Romania

Executive Summary This study advances and tests determinants of entry strategies of U.S. companies to Eastern Europe, as well as factors that determine the satisfaction of these companies with their economic performance in this area. Using survey data and a multivariable research design, the study adds new knowledge and supports previous findings. It reports that the entry mode of U.S. companies into these countries is determined by the following variables, ranked from most to least important: market potential, company activity, level of competition, and year of market entry. It also reports that the satis‐faction of U.S. companies doing business in these countries is decided by the following variables, ranked from most to least important: economic‐performance outlook, level of competition, number of competitors, market potential, year of entry, and business activity. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A Cross-Cultural Study of Ethics: The United States,Romania, Poland,and the Czech Republic

Global expansion of business into areas defined by different cultural and national environments creates the need for companies to better understand the impact of culture on business operations. Of particular importance is the role country of residence plays. Researchers argue that many cultural differences are malleable, capable of shifting to fit the corporate culture of an organization. However, additional research aimed at identifying different countries’ cultural values is needed. This paper presents the results of a multi-national survey of business students identifying differences in cultural perceptions of ethical behaviors. Differences in personal versus social decision making are discussed.     

Women Entrepreneurs: A Comparison of International Small Business Owners in Poland and the Czech Republic

Women entrepreneurs from two Central European countries with relatively new market economies were interviewed for this research. The authors describe the experiences and motivation of these women international business owners and compare them to the literature on women entrepreneurs in North America. Cross-culturally, women entrepreneurs share many of the same motivations for starting a business, and experience similar challenges to making their enterprises successful. North American models of entrepreneurship are also examined. The findings suggest a universal model for entrepreneurship. Suggestions for government policies are put forward. Managerial and theoretical implications are also presented and new directions for research on women entrepreneurs are suggested.     

Czech Republic:A Typical and Flexible European Economy for Trade with China

During the early time of July,Martin Tlapa, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Czech Republic visited China.     

中国-欧盟农产品贸易结构分析

本文运用多项指标系统描述了1995-2003年中国-欧盟农产品贸易结构的特征。相对贸易优势测算结果显示中国在动物产品、蔬菜水果和烟草等劳动密集型产品上的竞争优势有所减弱,而在茶类产品、水产品加工产品和蔬菜水果制品上的竞争优势趋于增强;贸易互补性在波动中增强;出口相似性指数表明双方在出口结构上存在较大的差异;贸易强度指数显示中国与原欧盟以及扩大后的欧盟在农产品贸易方面有很大的发展潜力。最后得出结论,中国应该发挥高附加值农产品的出口优势,扩大对欧盟的出口。     

Entries and Exits in Foreign Markets: Italian Firms' Multinational Expansion in the European Union

This paper focuses on the expansion strategies in foreign markets of a sample of Italian firms during the period 1987-93. The data reveal strong dynamics in entry and exit strategies and an overall increase in Italian firms' foreign manufacturing activities. Firms seem to be restructuring and reorganising their range of activities in view of the new competitive scenario promoted by the completion of the Single European Market. A logit model investigating the determinants of entry in foreign markets is tested at the firm level. The results suggest that firms' specific resources, target industry and foreign country characteristics are important explanatory variables. Some new insights concerning the export substitution effect, the presence of technological sourcing and the multinational/ diversification dichotomy are also discussed.     

Eastern-Western supplier-customer relationships in agricultural machinery industry: results of an empirical investigation in the Czech Republic,Hungary, Romania,Ukraine, and Germany

International trade between Germany and the young reform states in Central and Eastern Europe is growing rapidly. Germany is the most important trading partner for nearly all of the Central and Eastern European countries. Nevertheless, there are relatively few empirical studies concerning purchasing activities of western manufacturers in Central and Eastern Europe. Especially the characteristics of successful relationships between Central and Eastern suppliers and their western customers have not been addressed. This paper presents results of a survey carried out in the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine and Germany. The research reported, contributes towards answering the following research questions. (1) What are the reasons for establishing Eastern-Western supplier-customer relationships? (2) What are the characteristics of German customers buying in Central and Eastern Europe? (3) Which attributes are prominent by Eastern suppliers? (4) What are the ingredients of a successful supplier-customer relationship?The survey showed that many successful relationships between German manufacturers and Central European suppliers have been established. The importance of these relationships for both suppliers and customers is shown by the average share of materials by value bought in Central and Eastern Europe, the high specificity of the purchased materials, the types of contracts employed, and the extent of support activities. Furthermore, the study has identified the requirements and numerous attributes of successful Eastern-Western supplier-customer relationships.     

美欧地理标志之争对东亚的影响

美国与欧盟的地理标志之争,对东亚产生了重大影响。首先,促使东亚地理标志法律保护意识崛起。"地理标志"概念被移植,国内地理标志法律保护体系得以形成。其次,导致东亚地理标志保护立场分化。日本、台湾地区成为"亲美派",中国大陆及韩国则保持中立。再次,促使东亚地理标志国际摩擦受到关注。东亚"中立派"在地理标志之争中的态度将逐渐趋于明确;"官民协作"将成为东亚地理标志维权的一大发展趋势。     

On the European Responsibility in the Agricultural Multilateral Trade Negotiations: Modelling the Impacts of the Common Agricultural Policy

The present round of multilateral trade negotiations is still deadlocked over agricultural trade. The European Union (EU) is urged by its trading partners to open its agricultural markets. Economic evaluations of trade liberalisation scenarios unanimously conclude that a substantial opening of agricultural markets is required for a successful (welfare‐improving) Doha Round. In this paper, we perform new evaluations to identify precisely the contributions of the European farm policy and to examine the robustness of these evaluations in the representation of this complex policy. Using the same specifications as in major previous studies, our first simulations show that the EU has a major responsibility in delivering significant gains to the developing countries. On the other hand, when we conduct the same experiments with a more relevant calibration and modelling of the European farm policy instruments, the gains that these developing countries may reap from the EU liberalisation are considerably reduced. Accordingly the current charge against the EU is simply inopportune.     

面对WTO中国保险业如何应对

本文试从中国保险业的现状出发,分析了我国保险业存在的问题及加入 ＷＴＯ带来的压力与历史机遇,提出了几点应对措施以发展中国的保险业。     

From the Soviet Union to the European Union: Estonian Trade Policy, 1991–2000

This paper examines the political economy of Estonian trade policy in the 1990s. Estonia is a unique case in the world economy, in that the country rapidly implemented unilateral free trade after regaining independence and sustained it right through the 1990s. We analyse the circumstances, interests, ideas and institutions that have shaped Estonian trade policy during the past decade. Our stress is on institutions, particularly the national decision‐making setting for trade policy. Through this prism we try to understand how a free trade regime was implemented and sustained, and what this experience suggests for the feasibility of tree trade elsewhere. We also look at the increasingly ‘multi‐track’ nature of Estonian trade policy through bilateral free trade agreements, WTO accession and, especially, the movement towards EU accession. Although the other trade policy tracks to some extent provide a lockin for unilateral reforms, we argue that EU accession is undermining the simple, classical liberal trade policy regime that existed during the 1990s.     

“入世”对WTO发展中成员利益格局的影响

<正> 一、关贸总协定成立之初50年代,关贸总协定23个缔约方中的8个中小发展中国家在关贸总协定中力量微弱,并没有形成什么影响,而且单一的关程减让谈判成果是基于最惠国待遇原则实施的,比较公平,还谈不上发展中缔约方之间的利益划分与平衡问题。关贸总协定条文中并未对发展中缔约方的概念与标准进行明确规定,只是第18条针对发展中国家和地区的幼稚工业     

State of corruption in transition: case of the Czech Republic

Corruption has a negative impact on society and economy. The transition process in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) uncovered dormant possibilities for corruption and the necessity for appropriate steps to be taken. We document on the state of corruption in the Czech Republic and the measures introduced to fight it. We cover sectors of society and economy according to their importance of a consequential corruption hazard. We also described the government's program of anticorruption and its achievements and failures. The state of corruption in the country, measured by the Corruption Perception Index, presents a serious problem since the index does not improve as the transition process advances. Numerous comparative studies, however, suggest that corruption is a more prominent feature in a number of other transition countries. We believe that the substantial change of approach to the institutional framework is necessary in order to prevent and fight corruption successfully.     

入世对中国农业发展影响的事后评估——基于GTAP模型的实证分析

基于GTAP模型,设计了相应的模拟方案,事后模拟评估了不入世对中国农业发展带来的影响。结果显示:如果中国当初未加入WTO,中国的国民经济发展水平和福利水平将显著下降,而对世界其他地区的国民经济发展水平和福利水平影响很小;中国大多数农产品的生产、消费和价格都会下降;在分类农产品贸易上,奶类、油料和油脂这些中国具有比较劣势的农产品进口量将大幅度减少,而蔬菜水果和水产品这些中国具有较强国际竞争力的农产品出口量将明显萎缩。     

欧盟在华直接投资对中国与欧盟贸易的影响

本文运用面板数据的方法,研究了欧盟在华直接投资对中国与欧盟贸易的影响,结论表明,欧盟在华直接投资促进了中国对欧盟各成员国的进出口贸易,但影响较小,影响中、欧贸易的主要因素是中国和欧盟各成员国的经济实力(GDP)。这表明欧盟在华投资企业的市场战略主要是针对中国广阔的国内市场的。文章最后部分对如何促进欧盟对华直接投资和扩大中、欧贸易提出了建议。