Investment In Countries Research Articles

Unlocking Economic Potential: Leveraging Maqâshid al-Syarî'ah Achievements to Boost Investment in OIC Countries

The study investigates the factors influencing investment ratings within OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) countries from 2011 to 2015. We employed the Tobit Regression model as our primary analytical tool to achieve this objective. Our data sources encompassed secondary data sets published by reputable organizations such as the World Bank, Transparency International, and UNDP. We utilised purposive sampling, targeting 19 OIC nations for which comprehensive data on the required variables were available. The model featured five independent variables: the Corruption Perception Index, GDP per capita, population growth, life expectancy, and the education index. The sole dependent variable under examination was the investment rating. Our findings unveiled that the Corruption Perception Index and GDP per capita significantly influenced the investment ratings within OIC countries. It implies that perceptions of corruption and economic prosperity played pivotal roles in shaping the investment climate within these nations during the specified period.

Do environmental and institutional quality attribute to inflows of FDI in Lower-Middle income Nations? Evidences from asymmetric investigation

The present study investigates the correlation between environmental and institutional quality and their influence on the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in lower-middle income countries. Employing an asymmetric investigation approach, the study endeavors to furnish all-encompassing insights into the determinants of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and their diverse effects across disparate nations. Based on empirical analysis and econometric modeling, it has been determined that FDI inflows are significantly impacted by both environmental and institutional quality. Countries that exhibit superior environmental quality, characterized by effective pollution control measures and sustainable resource management, tend to attract greater levels of foreign direct investment (FDI). Likewise, robust institutional quality, distinguished by sound governance, transparent regulations, effective legal systems, and diminished corruption, has a favorable impact on the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI). Additionally, the study reveals asymmetric effects, indicating that the correlation between FDI inflows and environmental and institutional quality varies among countries depending on their individual circumstances. The aforementioned findings emphasize the significance of tackling environmental and institutional elements in order to draw in foreign direct investment and encourage sustainable economic development. The study's conclusion suggests implementing policies to enhance environmental quality, fortify institutional frameworks, and customize strategies according to country-specific contexts to augment FDI inflows in lower-middle income nations. By implementing these measures, policymakers can establish an appealing investment environment, leverage environmental benefits, and promote sustainable development.

Union Bargaining Power and Institutional Investors: Evidence from 20 OECD Countries, 1980–2017

This article investigates the relationship between the share of assets held by institutional investors relative to GDP and a synthetic index of union bargaining power in 20 OECD countries from 1980 to 2017. Findings from the use of fixed-effects OLS and instrumental variables regressions show that the share of assets held by institutional investors, especially insurance companies and pension funds, is correlated with a decline in union bargaining power. The authors argue that by contributing to significant changes in corporate strategies and governance through potential effects on jobs and wages, institutional investors in most OECD countries may have weakened the influence of trade unions, thereby leading to a higher decentralization of wage bargaining. Mixed evidence is found, however, when investigating the role of complementarity across institutions to explain cross-country heterogeneity.

The Relevance of Human Security Approach in Assessing The Causes and Solutions to Food Insecurity in South Sudan (Case Study: South Sudan 2017 Famine)

The Relevance of Human Security Approach in Assessing The Causes and Solutions to Food Insecurity in South Sudan (Case Study: South Sudan 2017 Famine)

Implementing Active Assisted Living Technology in the Long-term Care of People Living With Dementia to Address Loneliness: European Survey.

In the lives of people with dementia, loneliness is an important issue with psychological and physical consequences. Active assisted living (AAL) technology has been gaining visibility in the care of persons living with dementia, including addressing loneliness. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of evidence concerning the factors influencing the implementation of AAL technology within the context of dementia, loneliness, and long-term care (LTC). We aimed to identify the familiarity with AAL technology that is promising for addressing loneliness in persons living with dementia in LTC in Europe and the factors influencing AAL technology implementation. A web-based survey was developed based on findings from our previous literature review. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research guided the development and analysis of the survey. Participants included 24 representatives of Alzheimer Europe member associations from 15 European countries. The data were analyzed using basic statistical methods (descriptive statistics). The baby seal robot Paro was reported to be the most familiar AAL technology by 19 of 24 participants addressing loneliness in people with dementia living in LTC. Participants from Norway (n=2) reported familiarity with 14 AAL technologies, and participants from Serbia (n=1) reported zero familiarity. It seems that countries that invest less in LTC facilities are familiar with fewer AAL technologies. At the same time, these countries report a more positive attitude toward AAL technology, express a higher need for it, and see more advantages than disadvantages than those countries that invest more in LTC. However, a country's investment in LTC facilities does not seem to be linked to other implementation aspects such as costs, planning, and the impact of infrastructure. Implementation of AAL technology to address loneliness in dementia seems to be linked to familiarity with the technology in a country as well as national investment in LTC facilities. This survey confirms the literature on higher investment countries' critical stance in regard to AAL technology implementation to address loneliness in persons living with dementia living in LTC. Further research is needed to clarify the potential reasons why familiarity with more AAL technology does not seem to be directly linked with acceptance, positive attitude, or satisfaction with AAL technology addressing loneliness in persons living with dementia.

Product Market Competition, Corporate Investment, and Firm Value: Scrutinizing the Role of Economic Policy Uncertainty

This study examines the effects of product market competition on corporate investment and firm value and the moderating role of economic policy uncertainty on this relationship. The firm-level data of 1971 listed corporate firms for BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries during 2009–2020 were used, totaling 23,652 observations. Using the GMM estimates, our results depict that product market competition significantly influences corporate investment and firm value in BRIC countries. The result also reveals that economic policy uncertainty plays a significant role in the impact of product market competition on corporate investment and firm value at Brazilian, Russian, Indian, and Chinese firms. The study’s findings contribute to the body of knowledge by providing new evidence on the relationship between PMC, corporate investment, and firm value. These findings are vital for policymakers and regulatory bodies to focus on economic uncertainty in a competitive environment without jeopardizing investment returns in emerging markets.

#6242 CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS FROM AFRICAN COUNTRIES OF PORTUGUESE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: A PORTUGUESE COHORT

Abstract Background and Aims Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with African descendants being at increased risk of occurrence and progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, the burden of CKD and ESRD in African continent is still largely conjectural and access to treatment of CKD is restricted in those countries. Africa contributes to <10% of the total renal replacement therapy (RRT) patients worldwide, mainly due to the high costs associated. The purpose of this analysis was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients from African Countries of Portuguese Official Language (ACPOL) who integrated the HD program of a tertiary hospital in Portugal. Method Retrospective analysis of 126 African patients who integrated the HD program of a tertiary hospital in Portugal, between January 2015 and December 2019. Last follow-up was ascertained in January 2021. Results Mean age was 49.9 ± 14.1 years, and 53.6% were male (n = 71). Hypertension was a comorbidity in 96.0% (n = 121). Twenty-one patients came from Angola (16.7%), 53 from Cape Verde (42.1%), 23 from Guinea-Bissau (18.3%), 20 from Saint Thomas and Prince (15.9%), and 9 from Mozambique (7.1%). Motive for referral to Portugal was RRT requirement in 93.7% of the cases (n = 118) and vascular access (VA) dysfunction in 6.3% (n = 8); these 8 patients with VA dysfunction were already on hemodialysis program before their evacuation to Portugal and they were mainly from Cape Verde (n = 4), Angola (n = 3), and one patient from Guinea-Bissau. At arrival, patients who initiated HD in our unit had mean serum creatinine 9.4 ± 4.4 mg/dL, urea 182.5 ± 109.1 mg/dL, Hb 9.6 ± 1.7 g/dL, serum albumin 3.6 ± 0.6 g/dL, PTH 491.7 ± 392.6 pg/mL. Patients referred due to VA dysfunction had mean Hb 10.1 ± 1.8 g/dL, serum albumin 3.7 ± 1.0 g/dL, PTH 918.9 ± 541.6 pg/mL. There were no statistically significant differences in both groups concerning country of origin, although hypoalbuminemia was more frequent in patients from Saint Thomas and Prince (50%) and Angola (42.9%). All patients started HD with a central venous catheter (CVC). During follow-up, CVC remained the vascular access in 51.6% (n = 65), arteriovenous fistula in 42.9% (n = 54), and arteriovenous graft in 5.6% patients (n = 7). Nine patients had exhaustion of VA for HD. Mean follow-up time was 70.5 ± 41.3 months, 1.6% of the patients transitioned to peritoneal dialysis (n = 2) and 15.1% were submitted to renal transplantation (n = 18). The mortality rate during follow-up was 14.3% (n = 18). Conclusion There are few studies about African patients undergoing HD and this is the first study presenting the clinical characteristics and outcomes of hemodialysis patients from ACPOL. These are young patients, almost all with hypertension, with a high prevalence of anemia, malnutrition, and secondary hyperparathyroidism. All patients started HD with CVC and several presented multiple access dysfunction. These data reinforce the urgent need of improvement and investment in African countries’ healthcare, especially on what concerns the ESRD, as it contributes to serious consequences in these patients’ survival and quality of life. With the cooperation protocol, Portugal provides these patients with RRT, treatment of the CKD complications, VA care, possibility of peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation, ultimately improving their chance of survival and quality of life.

Do Unethical Stocks Win in Developing Country? Evidence From Indonesia

Ethical investing in various countries is increasingly popular following the number of ethical investors. However, the performance of ethical investments in many developed countries is lower than the performance of the opposite category, unethical stock, or researchers called it as sin stock. This study examines whether the performance of sin stocks in Indonesia is as good as the performance of sin stocks in developed countries considering the very different cultures and religions. This study comprehensively measures the performance of all sin stocks and ethical stocks using the risk-adjusted return approach, the Sharpe and Treynor ratios. To sharpen the analysis, this study also measures the efficiency of all types of stocks using the data envelopment analysis method. The results show that the performance of the sin stock portfolio in Indonesia is different from the facts in developed countries. Sin stocks in Indonesia had the worst performance during 2013-2022 compared to ethical stocks. Furthermore, in terms of efficiency, the SRI-Kehati Index has the highest score compared to all indices. This research contributes to provide theoretical and practical insights about the comparison of the performance of sin stocks and their counterparts in Indonesia which is different from sin stocks in developed countries. The originality of the research includes the creation of a sin stock portfolio and the use of constraint stocks as a proxy for ethical stocks.

Foreign direct investments from the european union in the economy of Ukraine: current state and trends of involvement

Methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research is the work of domestic scientists, data from government agencies, in particular the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the National Bank of Ukraine. Information from the International Monetary Fund, the EU website, and the European Business Association was also used. The results were obtained using a range of methods: the method of logical analysis made it possible to develop the logic of the research; structural and statistical analysis of dynamics was used to evaluate private foreign investments in Ukraine by EU countries and types of economic activity; graphic method – for visualization of the obtained research results; grouping methods, tabular – for selection, generalization of data and presentation of calculation results; deduction – to highlight certain factors affecting the investment attractiveness of Ukraine and others. Results. The article is devoted to the analysis of trends in foreign direct investment inflows to Ukraine, in particular from EU member states. The essence of direct foreign investments is considered. The volume of FDI in the economy of Ukraine, FDI inflows (operations and balances under instruments) by EU investor countries were studied. It was revealed what events influenced the excess of FDI outflows over inflows in the national economy. The dynamics of the volume of FDI (share capital) in the domestic economy, in particular from EU countries, FDI (residues on instruments) in Ukraine by types of economic activity were also considered and analyzed. The investment attractiveness is characterized and the main negative factors influencing the investment climate of Ukraine are identified. Novelty. An assessment of the current state of direct foreign investment in the economy of Ukraine by EU countries is provided. The general trends of FDI attraction in the economy of Ukraine are substantiated. Prospects for the further development of Ukraine's investment relations with EU countries have been determined. Practical value. The analysis of the dynamics of the volume of private foreign investments in Ukraine makes it possible to predict the trends of future inflows, in particular from the EU countries. It is also possible to identify EU member states that invest the most and the least in our country and, as a result, develop measures to increase Ukraine's attractiveness for FDI from EU countries, since they are economically and innovatively developed.

ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTMENTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE UKRAINIAN ECONOMY: WARTIME CHALLENGES AND POSTWAR PROSPECTS

The article discusses attracting foreign investments for the development of the Ukrainian economy. Analyzed wartime challenges and postwar prospects. It was determined that during the large-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the implementation of the martial law, attracting foreign investments is one of the main measures to support the national economy. As a result of the military aggression of the Russian Federation, the economy of Ukraine suffered significant losses. Were analyzed the dynamics of attracting foreign investments in 2002-2022. The analysis of the development vectors of the FDI market allows us to conclude that their dynamics depends on global economic and political trends Debt instruments are prevalent in the structure of the FDI instruments of the investor countries, and the sectoral structure of the investments is determined by the secondary sector, meaning manufacturing of goods. Prospects for attracting foreign investments are outlined, which will primarily be aimed at the post-war recovery of Ukraine according to the "Marshal Plan" for Ukraine. In particular, a list of sectors of the Ukrainian economy that will be interesting for foreign investors has been determined.

Riding the Trojan Horse? EU Accession and Chinese Investment in CEE Countries

ABSTRACT Chinese investment in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has been expanding in recent years. As the economic ties deepen, security concerns also rise with arguments decrying Chinese investment and loans as a Trojan horse aiming at buying off political influence and dividing the European Union (EU) from within. On the other hand, some recent studies suggest that the volume and threat of Chinese capital have been exaggerated by politicians from different fronts. My study contributes to the understanding of Chinese economic statecraft in CEE by examining whether it follows a ‘divide and rule’ strategy. I argue if such a strategy holds Chinese capital should increase disproportionately in CEE countries that have recently joined the EU. I apply a difference in differences (DID) design to test whether Chinese investment and trade in CEE are driven mostly by such a divisive geopolitical motivation, finding no empirical support.

Neural Networks as a Means to Study the Factors Having Influence on Adjusted Net Savings

"The purpose of the study is to prove the existence of a relationship between the inflow of foreign direct investment, inflation and the level of income from taxation on adjusted net savings. The researchers used a combination of regression analysis and analogy with the human brain in terms of information intake and processing as well as any factors of biological nature. During the study, the author applied both general scientific and special methods: scientific abstraction, analysis and synthesis, historical and logical method, systematic approach, method of theoretical generalization and comparison. They used methods of regression analysis at the first stage of the study and the method of neural networks at the second stage to build an input-output model of investment in a particular country. They compared obtained results with each other and formulated a model of the possible impact of investment inflows to countries by transnational corporations. The results of the study confirm that the national and foreign investment policies of the host countries transform the role of investment in economic development while improving the standard of living in the countries studied. The author proved"

Counterfeiting of Weel-Known Brands in Indonesia: Legal Protection?

The use of well-known brands is now starting to bloom, and this is none other than because it promises big benefits that will be obtained when using well-known brands instead of using their brands. One of the reasons why many industries use well-known brands for their products is to make them easy to sell. This study uses normative legal research methods to examine the protection of well-known brands in Indonesia. The results of this study indicate that trademark protection is provided after the trademark owner registers his trademark. Law Number 20 of 2016 needs to define well-known brands clearly. Well-known marks, namely the rejection of an application that is basically the same or wholly with a well-known Mark for similar goods and services is carried out with due observance of the general provisions. public knowledge about the mark in the field of business concerned. In addition, attention is also paid to the reputation of a well-known brand that is obtained due to vigorous and large-scale promotions, investments in several countries in the world that are carried out by the owner and are accompanied by proof of registration. brand in several countries.

Foreign direct investment in the context of rising populism: The role of institutions and firm‐level internationalization

AbstractResearch SummaryWe investigate how the presence of populist rulers affects foreign direct investment in democratic countries. Our analysis sheds light on the mechanisms by which this political force impacts firms' decisions, considering the effect of institutions and internationalization strategies at the firm level in the global arena. We test our theory using instrumental variables with a panel dataset of US multinationals in 37 democratic countries between 1999 and 2020. Our findings suggest that the presence of a populist ruler at the helm of government seems to undermine firms' foreign investment and it is potentially moderated by country‐level institutions and firm‐level internationalization. Collectively, our results offer new insights on how populism affects multinationals' investment decisions, contributing to the literature that examines the relationship between political pressure and investment decisions.Managerial SummaryInvesting in countries with populist rulers poses a challenge for multinationals. Populist leaders constantly threaten to abruptly change the institutions that provide certainty for foreign investments. This study argues that the presence of a populist negatively affects firms' foreign investment, moderated by institutions and internationalization strategies. The adverse impacts of populism on investment are mitigated in countries with robust institutional frameworks. In such cases, the credibility of populists' promises to alter the established “rules of the game” is lower than in countries with weaker institutions. Additionally, by expanding their degree of internationalization, firms are better equipped to navigate the lack of information generated by populist rulers. Our research provides implications for managers in assessing the risks and opportunities associated with investing in such contexts.

Negative Interest Rates and Its Impact on GDP, FDI and Banks’ Financial Performance: The Cases of Switzerland and Sweden

The article deals with the issue of how negative interest rate policies, introduced in the second decade of the 21st century in some countries, affect certain macroeconomic indicators and bank performance. We concentrate specifically on Switzerland and Sweden. We use correlation analysis to reveal the relationship between interest rates and GDP, the level of foreign direct investment (FDI) and some indicators of banks’ performance. We found that negative interest rates (NIRs) are strongly correlated with the level of GDP in both Switzerland and Sweden but that they do not affect their FDI. The share of banks´ deposits in GDP is also strongly correlated with NIR. Other indicators of bank performance do not show a strong correlation for both countries. Our evidence is consistent with NIR not being associated with undesirable effects concerning economic growth and bank performance in Switzerland and Sweden. The value of FDI depends on many factors—mainly on the attractiveness of a country for foreign investors in terms of its political and economic stability and by general conditions for business operation.

Investment dynamics in central and eastern Europe: a nonlinear approach

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to understand the dynamics of investment in Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs). The role that investment plays in the economic development is of particular interest in these countries, as, on the one hand, they have experienced a transition to market economies and, on the other hand, they have joined the European Union. This study contributes to the related literature by resorting to nonlinear models, which give us a better and more flexible understanding of the behaviour of the dynamics of investment, in comparison to linear specifications. The aim is to analyse which economic fundamentals are behind the nonlinear behaviour, as stated by the theoretical literature, of our variable of interest. Our results evidence the importance of the macroeconomic conditions on the dynamics of investment in CEECs, particularly its own recent history and the cyclical state of the economy.

Analysis on Location Choice of China's OFDI in RCEP Countries

Based on the panel data of RCEP countries from 2007 to 2021, this article analyzes the location choice of China's outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in RCEP countries. The results show that China's OFDI to RCEP countries is influenced by many factors. The market size and labor force of the host country significantly promote it, while the host country’s tax burden and natural resource endowment significantly inhibit it. In order to better leverage the advantages of the RCEP, China should take a more active role in implementing the RCEP, improving labor market security system, optimizing its investment in RCEP countries, and actively integrating into the host society.

Foreign Direct Investment, Trade Openness and Environmental Degradation in SSA Countries. A Quadratic Modeling and Turning Point Approach

The consequences of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) countries cannot be ignore given it adverse effect on human health and global warming. With rising CO2 emissions and fallen volume of trade openness and FDI inflows in recent time, we seek to examine the effect of trade openness and foreign direct investment (FDI) on environmental degradation using time series data from 1975 to 2020 in SSA. Using the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) framework, the study employs a quadratic modeling and turning point approach to realize the study objectives. The findings reveals that (1) the trade openness-EKC and FDI-EKC does not hold given the presence of decreasing effects in the short run and increasing effects in the long run; (2) it confirms that a U-shaped trade openness-emissions and FDI-emission nexus holds given the decrease in trade openness and FDI in the short run and an increase in trade openness and FDI in the longrun; (3) The analysis supports the halo effect hypothesis before the turning point but the pollution haven hypothesis sets in after the turning point; (4) it shows evidence that trade openness and FDI contributes to reduce CO2 emissions in the short but increase it in the long run. The study recommends that SSA countries should adopt stringent environmental policies to attain sustainable economic growth without associative harm to the environment.

Public investment as downward benefit distribution: Theory and evidence from China’s public–private partnership programs

Although previous studies have documented the political cycle of public investment in various countries, we still know little about its distributional consequences. We address this question by analyzing an emerging form of public infrastructure investment in China: public–private partnership (PPP). We argue that mayors use infrastructure investment to distribute benefits, thereby securing local compliance and support. Our empirical analysis draws on a unique dataset that matches PPP contracts with Chinese mayors who served from 2010 to 2017. We demonstrate a salient tenure effect: mayors decrease public investment over time during their tenure. Moreover, the tenure effect is more salient among mayors who lack local work experience. Contract-level evidence shows that mayors disproportionately allocate more investment to local firms, especially local state-owned enterprises, to garner local support. We show that the downward tenure effect is mainly driven by officials’ survival concerns rather than promotion incentives.

Economic feasibility of floating photovoltaic power plants: Profitability and competitiveness

Floating photovoltaics is a solution that is getting significant attention worldwide. It consists of installing photovoltaic modules on water basins. This contributes to alleviating the land occupancy issue associated with the growing deployment of photovoltaics. However, because of the early stage of deployment, the costs of floating systems are still higher than traditional land-based photovoltaics. Nonetheless, in some cases, the installation of floating photovoltaics might occur independently of the cost competition with the in-land technology. In this light, the current work presents an analysis of the profitability and cost competitiveness of floating photovoltaics in Europe. The Levelized Cost of Electricity of floating photovoltaics is found to be generally higher than onshore wind and land-based photovoltaics, but lower than fossil gas. Furthermore, floating photovoltaics is found to be a profitable investment in countries with low capital costs, high energy yields and/or high market price of electricity. In these countries, the internal rate of return is typically higher than the weighted average cost of capital, confirming the profitability of the investigated solution. Last, the economic parameters are found to influence the economic viability of FPV more than the energy related factors such as the tilt angle or the heat transfer.