Regional Competitiveness Research Articles

Moulding intergovernmental relations through tiao-kuai governance: dissecting the multi-scalar politics of intercity railway projects in China

ABSTRACT This article explores the dynamics of intergovernmental relations in China, specifically focusing on the tiao-kuai governance system and its role in regional infrastructural development, using intercity railway projects as a case study. The tiao-kuai system, characterised by vertical (tiao) and horizontal (kuai) governance, illustrates the complex interplay between central authority and local autonomy. Drawing on the Territory, Place, Scale and Network (TPSN) framework, this study analyses how multi-scalar politics shape regional competition and governance strategies, particularly in the Yangtze and Pearl River Delta intercity railway projects. Our findings highlight tensions between national priorities and local interests, as well as negotiation processes between various levels of government. This article underscores the importance of both top-down and bottom-up dynamics in regional development, unfolding how state spatial strategies are operationalised in a hybrid model of governance. This study contributes to the understanding of state space and intergovernmental collaboration in China’s large-scale infrastructure projects.

Development Trajectories of Two Industrial Regions in the EU Due to Different Transformation Paths—The Silesian Voivodeship in Poland and North Rhine–Westphalia in Germany

This article compares the socio-economic development of the two industrial EU regions, the Silesian Voivodeship Poland and the Düsseldorf District in North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany, in the last 20 years of the 21st century. The Ninth Cohesion Report, the EU Regional Competitiveness Index 2.0, and the two concepts of the regional development trap and just transition in the EU were used. It investigated whether the applied EU regional policy, cohesion policy, had the expected effect of strengthening sustainable growth in the regions. This article aims to compare development trajectories, identify development traps and barriers, consider the just transition in the analyzed regions, and provide recommendations for regional policy. Those heavily industrialized regions must respond to the demographic challenges of labor shortages and an aging population. In the case of the Silesia region, the indicated course of action includes labor activation of women and migration management. For both regions, improving productivity is the key. The vital economic challenges include: for the Silesian Voivodeship—strengthening innovation; for the Düsseldorf region—maintaining innovation momentum and increasing resilience. Developing skills that meet industries’ needs is essential. Regarding social cohesion, the Silesia region should focus on equality measures. On the other hand, the Düsseldorf region should strengthen social protection against poverty.

Enhancement of Nitrogen Retention in Cow Manure Composting with Biochar: An Investigation into Migration and Regulation Mechanisms

Context: Biochar can affect the storage and forms of nitrogen; thus, it may also play a role in altering the nitrogen cycle during the fermentation process of cow dung into organic fertilizer. Objective: To elucidate the mechanism and process of nitrogen transformation during the composting of cow manure with biochar, a comparative experiment was conducted. Method: This study investigates the use of biochar as a medium to enhance nitrogen storage during the aerobic composting of cow manure. The effectiveness was verified through a rapid composting experiment. Result and Conclusions: The results demonstrated that adding 5% biochar to the compost pile increased the total nitrogen content in manure by 12%. Specifically, the pyrrolic nitrogen in the composted cow manure increased from 38% to 44%, and the carbon-nitrogen ratio improved from 35% to 37%. Analysis of surface functional groups indicated that the C=O and C=C bonds in biochar played a key role in modifying nitrogen storage. Microbial analysis showed that biochar could significantly enhance the regional competitiveness of microorganisms, such as Cellvibrio, thereby boosting the expression of functional genes involved in the nitrification process, including amoABC, hao, and nxrAB. Therefore, adding 5% biochar not only enhances nitrogen storage in organic fertilizer but also changes the microbial population structure. Significance: This study carries substantial implications for the application of Biochar in the field, as well as for the development of microbial fertilizers based on cow manure.

Subway opening enables urban green development: Evidence from difference-in-differences and double dual machine learning methods.

Urban rail transport is an important part of transport infrastructure, which is significant in empowering green-oriented urban development. However, few studies in the existing literature explore the effect of subway opening on urban green development. This paper uses Chinese data of 281 prefecture-level cities from 2008 to 2021 to explore the influence and mechanism of subway opening on urban green total factor productivity (GTFP) through the difference-in-differences (DID) and double dual machine learning (DDML) methods. The results show that subway opening can improve urban GTFP, and realize urban green and innovative development. This conclusion is supported by several robustness tests. With regard to pathways, subway opening can broaden the frontiers of production possibilities and promote technological progress by upgrading industrial structure and improving innovation capacity, thus increasing urban GTFP. Moreover, the effect of subway opening on urban GTFP is heterogeneous in city size, city location and regional resource endowment. Considering the heterogeneity difference of GTFP, it is found that subway opening has a stronger "green" effect in cities with high level of green development. Digital infrastructure and regional competition play a positive role in regulating the effect of subway opening on urban GTFP. Economic growth target has a strong constraint on the impact of urban GTFP by subway opening, while the constraint effect of the environmental target is not significant. These findings help to provide valuable empirical evidence for urban green development from a transport-related perspective.

The self-assessment of quality culture and dimensions of social responsibility on the example of Pomeranian public organizations - winners of the Pomeranian Quality Award

The research problem is as follows: What is the level of quality culture in public organizations participating in the competition for the Pomeranian Quality Award? The purpose of the study is to identify the level of quality culture in selected public organizations and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the quality culture of these organizations. A self-assessment, desk research, expert evaluation, and the method of synthesis and logical inference were used as research methods. The surveyed organizations were rated very highly, both in terms of the level of quality culture and their commitment in terms of social responsibility. In the first and second cases, according to the adopted scale according to R. Kolman, the prevailing rating is excellent and outstanding. In both cases, the strength is the ongoing cooperation with the local and regional environment, as well as functioning under management systems, as well as the implementation of various programs for the natural environment and climate. The weaknesses of some organizations include reluctance to report workplace improvements and not documented, effective ways of communicating with their suppliers or subcontractors The main limitation is the small number of subjects, which does not allow generalizations. A second limitation is the lack of studies of a similar nature, involving, for example, public organizations participating in other regional competitions. The dimensions of the social responsibility of organizations are taken into account, including the impact of their activities on the society and natural environment in which they operate. The solutions used in these organizations can serve as good practices for implementation in other public entities, contributing to improving the quality of services for citizens. This is the first research paper when it comes to national quality competitions and the phenomenon of quality culture and corporate social responsibility.

Potential Development of Cavendish Banana as a New Leading Commodity in South Sulawesi

South Sulawesi Province has great potential in developing superior horticultural commodities, especially the Cavendish banana (Musa acuminata). This study aims to analyze the potential and opportunities for the development of Cavendish banana farming as a new superior commodity in South Sulawesi and assess its economic feasibility. With the large amount of fertile land that has not been optimized, the Cavendish banana can be a significant source of income for local communities while supporting the improvement of regional competitiveness. The analysis results show that Cavendish banana farming provides promising financial returns with productivity reaching 80,000 kg per hectare per year and an average selling price of IDR 4,500 per kilogram. Based on the financial feasibility analysis, the NPV value of IDR 499.48 million, IRR of 211.82%, and payback period of 0.5 years were obtained. In addition, the Cavendish banana also has the potential for product diversification and environmental benefits that support sustainability. This study recommends optimal resource management and collaboration between the government, private sector, and farmers to maximize the potential of this commodity as a regional economic driver.

Why, How, and When Do National Competition Agencies Support Supranational Regional Competition Regimes: A Case of the COMESA Competition Regime

Why, How, and When Do National Competition Agencies Support Supranational Regional Competition Regimes: A Case of the COMESA Competition Regime

How to identify reference regions for comparison of innovation and competitiveness

ABSTRACT Benchmarking has been deemed useful for the study of regional competitiveness and innovation and is quickly expanding. The aim of this work is the formulation and validation of a method to select the right regions to compare. The proposed method is of general application and can therefore be used by any region across the world wishing to benchmark against others in the field of competitiveness and innovation. This method is carried out in two successive stages. In the first stage, regions with higher innovation and competitiveness than the region under study are identified. In the second, a subset of regions with a resource base similar to the one under study is selected, which makes them suitable for the comparison. The method is validated by applying it to a European region. The results show the validity and robustness of the proposed method.

Estimating the Carrying Capacity of Cyprus Beaches

Tourism, contributing about 20% to Cyprus' GDP, underscores the need for sustainable development. Priorities include preserving environmental resources, conserving biodiversity, and protecting communities. Unplanned growth post-1974 in Famagusta harmed the region's character and competitiveness, with recent coastal development posing similar risks. Cyprus seeks to expand beyond “sun and sea” tourism to become a year-round destination but faces challenges like overcrowded beaches, pollution, and resource strain. This paper proposes estimating beach carrying capacities to limit users and preserve environmental quality, applying established methodologies to support sustainable tourism for Cyprus’ most popular beaches. Keywords: Sustainable Tourism, Carrying Capacity, Beach Management, User’s Perception, Economic Value.

Current Aspects of Developing the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Republic of Mordovia

A successful regional economy cannot exist without a modern, competitive, self-developing agro-industrial complex capable of effectively solving the tasks of fully providing food to the local population and guaranteeing food security of the country as a whole. The urgency of accelerated development of the agro-industrial complex has now increased significantly, which is explained by special complexity of numerous geopolitical and economic problems. Intensified development of the agro-industrial complex is of particular importance for economically difficult and problematic regions as the Republic of Mordovia. The purpose of the study is, based on the analysis of the problems and achievements of the agro–industrial complex, to assess regional measures to support and stimulate priority areas of its development, to work out proposals for their improvement. The scientific novelty of the study lies in formulating original proposals for regional support of the agro-industrial complex in the form of priority problematic tasks, worked out to the level of specific recommendations concerning strategic planning, targeted programs and projects for the development of the agro-industrial complex of the republic. Materials and methods. The main materials for the study were published scientific papers, the results of analyzed organizational and economic relations in the agro-industrial complex, and data from statistical collections. The methods of analysis and comparison were used in the work. Study results. The paper examines the main problematic factors constraining the pace of development of the agro-industrial complex of the region, and analyzes in detail its achievements. The author's assessment of regional support and stimulation of this economy sector is given, specific proposals are formulated on priority areas of its accelerated development. It is proposed to position the products of the agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Mordovia in the foreign markets of friendly countries, to increase the volume of its exports through expansion of trade and economic interregional international cooperation, and to single out this area to a separate subprogram of regional development. In order to strengthen market positions, it is proposed to hold an open regional competition for the best brand of outputs produced by the agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Mordovia, in order to reduce the cost intensity of innovative products of the agro-industrial complex, to work out the opportunities of attracting small business representatives to its production through their specialization and cooperation. Conclusions. As a result of the research, the main problems constraining the pace of economic development of the agro-industrial complex of the region are substantiated and analyzed. The main achievements in the development of the agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Mordovia are presented; special attention is paid to the need to further improve the innovative, investment, scientific and technological regional component of the competitiveness of the agro-industrial complex. The article notes an increase in the activity of the regional management apparatus, an increase in the level of trust in the current Republican leadership, which significantly affected the improvement of the investment climate in Mordovia, and the volume of state support for the region increased. Proposals were formulated to expand measures of regional support for the development of traditional and innovative priority areas of activity of enterprises of the agro-industrial complex of the republic.

Study on the Formation and Management Mechanism of New Productivity in Regional Economy from the Perspective of Modern Chinese History: Transformation from Traditional Agriculture to Modern Industry

This study explores the formation of new-quality productive forces and the management mechanisms underlying the transformation of regional economies from traditional agriculture to modern industry within the framework of China's modern history. During the transformative period of the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, regional economic development underwent significant shifts driven by industrialization, technological innovation, and evolving governance models. The study aims to identify the factors influencing the emergence of new-quality productive forces and their management, focusing on the interplay between historical context and economic transitions. Employing a combination of historical analysis, comparative regional studies, and data interpretation, this research reveals that the formation of new-quality productive forces was shaped by diverse regional conditions, including infrastructure, policy interventions, and market dynamics. The findings highlight the critical role of adaptive management mechanisms in optimizing economic transformation and achieving sustainable development. This research contributes to the understanding of historical economic transitions and offers valuable insights for policymakers and researchers in addressing current regional development challenges. It underscores the importance of context-specific approaches in fostering economic modernization and enhancing regional competitiveness.

DEVELOPMENT OF INTIATIVE AND ENTRENEURSHIP OF STUDENTS IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING ON THE STEM-PROJECT IN NEW UKRAINIAN SCHOOL

The formation of abilities and skills is absolutely necessary for personal development of students. Initiative and entrepreneurship are one of the comprehensive life skills not only for entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens, but also for young people. Тhe development of this competence helps to take care of one's own development, helps to realize one's own ideas, increases the competitiveness of an individual in the labor market, actively involves citizens in social life and increases their well-being.To date, there is no established definition of entrepreneurship of students, just as there are no clearly defined conditions for the development of initiative and entrepreneurship and criteria for evaluating the level of formation of this competence. The tasks of the research were the following: analysis of educational products of students, which are the results of work on STEM projects; substantiation of the effective criterion of formation of initiative and entrepreneurship among students as a key competence of the concept of New Ukrainian School. The publication demonstrates that the creative activity of students in the pursuit of creating educational products during the implementation of a STEM project is an effective criterion for the formation of such competence as initiative and entrepreneurship. Objective assessment of the quality of created products is determined by external experts during the STEM-project approbation in creative competitions of various levels (from regional to international). Examples of such competitions can be the following: Ukrainian competition for inventive and rationalizing projects in the ecological and naturalistic direction, Ukrainian competition for youth energy-saving projects "Energy and Environment", Ukrainian scientific and technical competition "Eco-Techno Ukraine", Ukrainian competition for the defense of students' scientific and research works – members of the National Academy of Sciences, the Ukrainian project "Energy Conservation and Ecology for Schoolchildren", the annual school conference "Khortytsia Readings", the regional competition of artistic and technical creativity "TechnoEcoStyle".

TERRITORIAL BRANDING TOOLS IN THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS

This study addresses the significant role of territorial branding as a strategic tool in public administration, particularly in the context of increasing globalization and regional competition. As regions strive to distinguish themselves on the global stage, the establishment of unique territorial brands emerges as a means to enhance economic growth, social development, and the overall quality of life for local populations. The paper discusses the necessity of territorial branding in fostering a positive regional image, bolstering regional identity, and attracting investments while promoting tourism and local businesses. Despite the growing interest in this field, there remains a gap in the theoretical understanding of territorial branding and practical guidelines for its implementation within public governance frameworks. This research aims to explore the essence, functions, and mechanisms of territorial branding, providing insights into its impact on shaping a region's image and identity. It emphasizes the importance of developing comprehensive branding strategies that consider the socio-cultural and economic nuances of each area. The analysis includes a review of contemporary scholarly works, highlighting contributions from leading researchers in Ukraine. The findings suggest that successful territorial branding relies on local community engagement, effective communication, and the alignment of branding initiatives with the region's unique cultural and economic resources. The study ultimately advocates for the integration of innovative branding practices into public administration to address contemporary challenges and leverage opportunities for sustainable regional development. Through a methodical examination of existing literature and theoretical models, this paper identifies key factors influencing effective territorial branding, such as cultural heritage, natural resources, economic opportunities, infrastructure, and overall quality of life. By synthesizing these aspects, the research offers practical recommendations for policymakers and public administrators to enhance the effectiveness of territorial branding efforts in Ukraine and beyond. This study serves as a foundational resource for further exploration of territorial branding as an essential component of regional development strategies.

STRATEGI PENINGKATAN MUTU LULUSAN DALAM MENGHADAPI TANTANGAN DAN ISU GLOBAL (STUDI KASUS STISIP TASIKMALAYA)

This study aims to analyze the strategy of improving the quality of graduates at STISIP Tasikmalaya in facing the challenges of globalization. The importance of this research lies in addressing the gap in the literature regarding comprehensive strategies that integrate curriculum development, soft skills enhancement, and industry collaboration holistically, especially in the context of local universities. This research used a qualitative approach with a case study method, which involved in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation. Data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman model through the stages of data condensation, data presentation, and conclusion drawing and verification. The results showed that STISIP Tasikmalaya's strategies, such as strengthening competency-based curriculum, soft skills training, and internship programs, have improved graduates' readiness to face global challenges. This strategy is proven effective through tracer study data which shows that 90% of graduates get jobs in less than six months. However, the institution still faces obstacles such as limited resources and regional competition. This research has implications for the development of a strategic framework for other universities in responding to global dynamics, as well as providing guidance for creating competitive and adaptive graduates.

Study on the Effect of Extreme Weather on Bank Credit Risk

In the global economic landscape, the potential impact of extreme weather issues on banks has attracted much attention. This study focuses on the impact of extreme weather on the credit risk of A-share listed banks and explores its role in financial stability. Given China's significant position in the global economy, analyzing the credit risk faced by its banking sector has both theoretical and practical value. By synthesizing bank financial data, weather records and macroeconomic indicators, this study quantifies the potential impact of extreme weather events on bank credit risk, taking into account the moderating effects of heterogeneity among bank types and regional bank competition. The results reveal the existence of an association between extreme weather and bank credit risk-taking and provide a basis for bank risk management and regulatory policies.

Russia’s Foreign Policy in the South Caucasus in the Context of Increasing New Regional Competition

The purpose of this article is to study various factors of Russia’s foreign policy in the South Caucasus during the 44-day Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) war of 2020 and in the post-war period. Russia’s mediation efforts to end the war in Nagorno-Karabakh and establish peace are considered. Particular attention is paid to the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh and the military-political significance of this initiative and the consequences, as well as the main reasons for the failure of this peacekeeping mission. The article also analyzes the multi-vector foreign policy pursued by regional states in the South Caucasus, in particular Türkiye and Iran. In this context, the prospects for Russian-Turkish cooperation in the South Caucasus, in particular, in the process of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, are highlighted. This also makes a comparative analysis of the foreign policies of the United States, European Union (EU) and France in the region significant. The article examines Russia’s ability to maintain its military and political influence and expand its economic presence in the South Caucasus. Issues that have hindered the establishment of peace and stability in the South Caucasus were also discussed.

Review of Opportunities and Challenges in China-Afghanistan Relations Post-U.S. Withdrawal

The relationship between China and Afghanistan has witnessed significant changes over the years, encompassing various political, economic, and security dimensions. Afghanistan's strategic location as a bridge between Central and South Asia holds particular significance for China, serving as a key transit route for infrastructure projects like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and others. Additionally, Afghanistan's rich mineral reserves, including copper, oil, and lithium, are particularly attractive to China, especially for its technology and electronics manufacturing industries. Therefore, despite these attractions, China seeks to establish peace and stability in Afghanistan to enable the country to serve as a reliable economic and trade partner. However, despite the opportunities present in bilateral relations, the unstable security situation in Afghanistan, especially after the withdrawal of international forces, the presence of regional powers like India, Pakistan, and Iran, and their competition for influence in Afghanistan, along with security concerns, represent significant challenges that could impact bilateral relations. This article uses a descriptive library-based method to address the question: What opportunities and challenges exist in China-Afghanistan relations, and how can both countries manage these challenges to capitalize on opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation? It is assumed that China and Afghanistan, by leveraging economic opportunities stemming from Afghanistan's natural resources and joint infrastructure projects, can strengthen their relations, provided both countries manage security challenges and regional competition wisely to ensure the necessary stability for such cooperation.

Intellectual Property in Battery Cell Production: A Step-By-Step Regional Analysis

The decision to establish lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as the technology of choice for electric vehicles (EVs) led to a remarkable and continuous growth in global demand for LIBs, further driven by the promotion of low-carbon transport. This promotion stimulated numerous technological innovations along the cell production value chain of LIBs, building on the implicit and explicit knowledge of the stakeholders in the sector. The assessment of this knowledge is enabled by data science methods that analyze innovative intellectual property (IP) and specialized Know-How, offering acceleration of development and cost savings. While previous data science approaches have focused on either materials in LIBs or holistic approaches to EVs, a void remains in the analysis of LIB cell production patents and the identification of less pronounced technology areas and potential white spots along the value chain. This work aims to address this void by identifying development pathways and investment opportunities for stakeholders and policy makers in LIB cell production. To achieve this, a new patent-based analysis framework is implemented, which addresses three sub-questions. First (1), the technological maturity of the state-of-the-art production processes from a regional perspective. Secondly (2), the international patenting trends to identify processes with the greatest potential for innovation. Finally (3), a network analysis approach to qualitatively assess the impact and competitiveness of various regions within each process and along the entire cell production value chain.To conduct the quantitative analysis, patent data from 1989 to 2023 was gathered and keywords were used to classify each cell production step. The patent quality was determined by calculating the mean eigenvector centralities for each region from the generated process-dependent networks. Eigenvector centralities are a valuable tool for gauging the impact of patents, as they describe the extent of connections between a single patent and other patents in the network.The study's results answered each sub-question, showing that (1) Japan’s technology lead was reversed after 2008 and overtaken by China in total patent numbers in 2018. Japan's former leadership and pioneering role in this field is reflected by a significant number of patents granted since 1993. In 2021, China holds the dominant position in technology patents across the whole production value chain with a share of 49%, witnessing the highest growth rate internationally since 2014. Moreover, the findings demonstrate (2) a maturation in the component production, expressed by a decrease in annual patenting, accompanied by a steady increase in patents for cell assembly processes to this date. The conditioning processes of the LIBs were identified as the most promising steps for innovation, with high potential to reduce costs and energy consumption. Finally, the qualitative analysis revealed (3) that the United States and Japan possess the broadest IP portfolios with the highest impact. The impact of China’s patent portfolio seems to be limited to partial connections within individual processes, thereby suggesting a preference on targeted innovations in one production step.In conclusion, this work has enabled the assessment of the state-of-the-art LIB cell production and identified technology areas and white spots. It will assist stakeholders and policy makers in selecting potential investments that can give them a competitive edge over other entities in the LIB market. In future work, the emphasis will be on the component production by implementing an analysis of the dry coating landscape. The introduction of dry coating can potentially eliminate the drying step, which is a major contributor to costs and energy consumption. Patent analysis will be adapted to evaluate trends in the key processes and the respective companies and institutions in this technology area.

Impact of the Diagnosis-Intervention Packet Payment Reform on Provider Behavior in China: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series Study.

China has developed a novel case-based payment method called the DiagnosisIntervention Packet (DIP) to regulate healthcare providers' behavior. G city, a metropolis in southeast China, has shifted its payment policy from fixed rate per admission to DIP under regional global budget since 2018. This study examined the immediate and trend changes in provider behavior after this payment reform. Discharge data in G city between 2016 and 2019 was used, covering more than 10 million inpatient cases in 320 hospitals. A counterfactual scenario was developed to assign insured and uninsured inpatients across the study period to specific DIP groups under consistent rules. Controlled interrupted time-series (ITS) analyses were performed, with uninsured inpatients as control. Outcomes included inpatient volume, average DIP weight (similar to case-mix index in Diagnosis-Related Groups), and two innovative indicators (average diagnostic weight and average treatment weight) to decompose the changes in DIP weight. Subgroup analyses were conducted for different hospital levels and 21 major disease categories. After the DIP reform, monthly trend of inpatient volume decreased (-1085.34, P=0.052), while monthly growth of average DIP weight increased (2.17, P=0.02). No significant changes in average diagnostic weight were observed. Monthly trend of average treatment weight increased (2.38, P=0.001) after the reform. Secondary and tertiary hospitals experienced insignificantly decreased inpatient volume and elevated average DIP weight, accompanied by negligible change in average diagnostic weight and significant increase in average treatment weight. Primary hospitals experienced reduced inpatient volume and stable average DIP weight, along with increase in average diagnostic weight and decrease in average treatment weight. By differentiated payments for severity, DIP induced hospitals to shift their focus from volume to weight of inpatients. Instead of diagnostic upcoding, hospitals responded to the DIP reform primarily by increasing treatment intensity. Primary hospitals may face financial risks under regional competition.

THE EFFECT OF EASE OF DOING BUSINESS (EODB) AND CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX (CPI) ON FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT (FDI) IN ASEAN

The background of this study is the instability of foreign investment in Southeast Asia due to declining corporate revenues and the Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused economic uncertainty and delayed investments by multinational companies. This study aims to examine the influence of the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in ASEAN. The research employs Structural Equation Modeling using Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS 4) software. The population in this study includes all countries in the Southeast Asian region, with a total sampling or census approach. The results indicate that the Ease of Doing Business does not affect Foreign Direct Investment. This is largely due to the low EoDB index scores in most ASEAN countries. In contrast, the Corruption Perception Index has a positive and significant effect on Foreign Direct Investment, suggesting that foreign investors have greater confidence to invest and feel that their substantial funds will be safer. The implications of this study suggest that ASEAN governments must enhance the investment climate by implementing regulatory reforms that promote the Ease of Doing Business and reduce corruption levels. These efforts are expected to improve regional competitiveness and attract more foreign investment, ultimately accelerating economic growth and infrastructure development in the region.