International Growth Research Articles

Marco regulatorio de la inversión extranjera directa y su incidencia en el sector petrolero de Argentina, Perú y Bolivia en el periodo 2006-2015

En las últimas décadas se ha profundizado la tendencia desreguladora como es-trategia de atracción de flujos de inversión extranjera directa (IED) entre países, los supuestos efectos positivos sobre la generación de empleo, la transferencia de tecnología, el mejoramiento de las relaciones internacionales y el crecimiento económico, son solo algunos aspectos que coadyuvan en el discurso a favor de los inversionistas y sus intereses. En el presente trabajo se estudiará el efecto que tiene la disminución de barreras al comercio y la IED dirigida al sector hidrocarburos, específicamente el petróleo, en el crecimiento económico de Argentina, Perú y Bolivia en el periodo comprendido entre 2006 y 2015.

Stillbirth at term: Does size really matter?

Placental dysfunction has a deleterious influence on fetal size and is associated with higher rates of perinatal morbidity and mortality. This association underpins the strategy of fetal size evaluation as a mechanism to identify placental dysfunction and prevent stillbirth. The optimal method of routine detection of small for gestational age (SGA) remains to be clarified with choices between estimation of symphyseal-fundal height versus routine third-trimester ultrasound, various formulae for fetal weight estimation by ultrasound, and the variable use of national, customized, or international fetal growth references. In addition to these controversies, the strategy for detecting SGA is further undermined by data demonstrating that the relationship between fetal size and adverse outcome weakens significantly with advancing gestation such that near term, the majority of stillbirths and adverse perinatal outcomes occur in normally sized fetuses. The use of maternal serum biochemical and Doppler parameters near term appears to be superior to fetal size in the identification of fetuses compromised by placental dysfunction and at increased risk of damage or demise. Multiparameter models and predictive algorithms using maternal risk factors, and biochemical and Doppler parameters have been developed, but need to be prospectively validated to demonstrate their effectiveness.

Mowat-Wilson syndrome: growth charts

BackgroundMowat–Wilson syndrome (MWS; OMIM #235730) is a genetic condition caused by heterozygous mutations or deletions of the ZEB2 gene. It is characterized by moderate-severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, Hirschsprung disease and multiple organ malformations of which congenital heart defects and urogenital anomalies are the most frequent ones. To date, a clear description of the physical development of MWS patients does not exist. The aim of this study is to provide up-to-date growth charts specific for infants and children with MWS. Charts for males and females aged from 0 to 16 years were generated using a total of 2865 measurements from 99 MWS patients of different ancestries. All data were collected through extensive collaborations with the Italian MWS association (AIMW) and the MWS Foundation. The GAMLSS package for the R statistical computing software was used to model the growth charts. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and head circumference were compared to those from standard international growth charts for healthy children.ResultsIn newborns, weight and length were distributed as in the general population, while head circumference was slightly smaller, with an average below the 30th centile. Up to the age of 7 years, weight and height distribution was shifted to slightly lower values than in the general population; after that, the difference increased further, with 50% of the affected children below the 5th centile of the general population. BMI distribution was similar to that of non-affected children until the age of 7 years, at which point values in MWS children increased with a less steep slope, particularly in males. Microcephaly was sometimes present at birth, but in most cases it developed gradually during infancy; many children had a small head circumference, between the 3rd and the 10th centile, rather than being truly microcephalic (at least 2 SD below the mean). Most patients were of slender build.ConclusionsThese charts contribute to the understanding of the natural history of MWS and should assist pediatricians and other caregivers in providing optimal care to MWS individuals who show problems related to physical growth. This is the first study on growth in patients with MWS.

Identifying New Partnerships for Innovation: Governance and Policy Challenges

Science, technology, and innovation are critical to national competitiveness, security, domestic and international policy, governance, politics, economic growth, culture, and human well-being. One course of action is to only collaborate with known, established partners. But this approach comes with the risk of missing out on the next “up and coming” player, losing the beneficial products that could arise if collaboration had been established earlier. Newcomers are nations that are developing competency and breakthroughs in specific disciplines but have not yet attained global recognition for their expertise and capacity. This article explores the practical policy and governance challenges associated with identifying and partnering with lesser-known countries, with the goal of providing an advantage to both newcomer nations and more established partners.

As estratégias do “Movimento Pela Base” na construção da BNCC: consenso e privatização

This article presents the articulations of the Movimento Pela Base in conducting the process of building the Base Nacional Comum Curricular throughout the Brazilian territory. In a political and economic context influenced by the managerial discourse of reducing the role of the State, the Brazilian business sector has become a central figure in most of the policy recommendations for the educational field, as a result of an international growth trend in the third sector on actions public. The analysis of scientific productions about BNCC, considering books, articles, thesis and dissertations, in addition to documents made available on electronic media, allowed us to demonstrate the capillarity of the movement, the involvement of the subjects and public and private institutions, and their intentions to educate for the new capitalist sociability, based on the need to form consensus around the idea of a collective social project of public policy.

Global Growth and National Urban Development with Housing

The purpose of this study is to examine dynamic interactions among economic growth, housing markets, residential distribution and international trade. The paper builds a multi-country growth model with economic geography and capital accumulation. The unique feature of the paper is to introduce economic geography and housing markets into a multi-country growth model with microeconomic foundations. The model is developed by integrating the four well-known key models – the Solow growth model, the Oniki–Uzawa trade model, the Alonso urban model, and the Muth housing model – in growth theory, international growth economics and urban economics within a comprehensive framework. We show that the dynamics of the J -country world economy can be described by J differential equations. We also simulate the global economy with three countries.

Export expansion and homeownership in China: Evidence from the China Household Finance Survey

Despite the fairly recent start of housing reform since the late 1990s, China has transformed rapidly from a country dominated by public rents to a country with one of the highest homeownership rates. As China has experienced tremendous international trade growth during this period, this paper investigates whether and how export expansion may affect homeownership at the county level, combining China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) with an instrument of regional export. It is found that export expansion has a negative impact on homeownership and a positive effect on housing space per resident. In addition, these impacts are more significant among households with lower income, younger ages, employed status, and local hukou. Empirical evidence also implies that income inequality, the influx of migrants, and housing affordability are the main channels through which export expansion may affect homeownership.

Capturing Waste or Capturing Innovation? Comparing Self-Organising Potentials of Surplus Food Redistribution Initiatives to Prevent Food Waste

The context for this article is the rapid international growth of (surplus) food redistribution initiatives. These are frequently reliant on networks of volunteer labour, often coordinated by digital means. Movements with these characteristics are increasingly viewed by researchers, policymakers and practitioners as cases of self-organisation. The article explores the nature and extent of self-organisation in food redistribution initiatives. Two contrasting UK initiatives were studied using ethnographic methods during a period of rapid expansion. The concept of self-organisation was operationalised using three dimensions—autonomy, expansion and governance. One initiative established food banks in close cooperation with corporate food actors. Its franchise charity model involved standardised safety protocols and significant centralised control. The other initiative deliberately pursued autonomy, rapid recruitment and de-centralised governance; nevertheless, collaboration with industry actors and a degree of centralised control became a (contested) part of the approach. We highlight the interplay of organisational agency and institutional structures affecting the self-organisation of surplus food redistribution, including ways in which movement dynamism can involve capture by dominant interests but also the seeds of transformative practices that challenge root causes of food waste, particularly food’s commodification. Our analysis provides a way to compare the potentials of food charity vs mutual aid in effecting systemic change.

How do mature born globals create customer value to achieve international growth?

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how mature born global firms create value for customers to achieve continued international growth.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a case study approach to investigate the under-researched area of how mature born globals create value for customers and, by doing so, contribute to their continued international growth. This in-depth examination of how three born globals developed over time uses interviews, observation and secondary data.FindingsThe findings indicate that the entrepreneurs of born global firms, that continued to grow, created a culture in the early stages that supported value creation for foreign customers. These firms have built a competitive position by developing international niche products. They have also implemented a combination of proactive and reactive market orientation to facilitate the creation and delivery of value to customers. To maintain growth, they further invest the revenues earned on additional international marketing activities and continuously enhance their focal products.Research limitations/implicationsThe study relies on three cases. We therefore recommend that future studies extend the scope of the research to several companies in various industries and countries, in which the theoretical arguments can be applied. In addition, further studies that test the propositions developed in this study, in different contexts, are highly recommended.Practical implicationsTo gain international growth, managers should create an organizational culture that facilitates satisfying international customer needs. Firms should continuously invest in sales and market development (e.g. social media marketing, personal selling) and undertake technology development of niche rather than new products. To achieve international growth, managers need to standardize part of the offer to achieve economies of scale and adapt the other part to international customers' needs.Originality/valueResearch on born globals has focused on the early stages of their internationalization processes, while largely neglecting the later stages (mature born globals) or the factors that lead to continued international growth. To address this gap, this study explores what happens when born globals ‘grow up’. This study contributes to the literature by capturing the factors and processes underlying how mature born globals create value for customers, for international growth. In particular, the study shows that the culture and strategies developed in the born globals' early stages also lead to international growth in later stages. The mature born globals have also invested in niche products, brand building, and effective market channels and adopted a combination of proactive and reactive market orientations.

Adding space to the international business cycle

Growth fluctuations exhibit substantial synchronization across countries, which has been viewed as reflecting a global business cycle driven by shocks with worldwide reach, or spillovers resulting from local real and/or financial linkages between countries. This paper brings these two perspectives together by analyzing international growth fluctuations in a setting that allows for both global shocks and spatial dependence. Using annual data for 117 countries over 1970–2016, the paper finds that the cross-country dependence of aggregate growth is the combined result of global shocks summarized by a latent common factor and spatial effects accruing through the growth of nearby countries – with proximity measured by bilateral trade linkages or geographic distance. The latent global factor shows a strong positive correlation with worldwide TFP growth. Countries’ exposure to global shocks is positively related to their openness to trade and the degree of commodity specialization of their economies, and negatively to their financial depth. Despite its simplicity, the empirical model fits the data well. Ignoring the cross-country dependence of growth, by omitting spatial effects or common shocks (or both) from the analysis, leads to a marked deterioration of the empirical model’s in-sample explanatory power and out-of-sample forecasting performance.

Anthropometric measurements of school-going-girls of the Punjab, Pakistan

BackgroundChild’s growth has been considered an important indicator to evaluate health trends in a population and to devise strategies accordingly. The purpose of the present study was to determine most commonly occurring weight abnormalities among school-going girls from Punjab and to compare with international growth references devised by World Health Organization (WHO) and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).MethodsIn this cross-sectional study a sample of 10,050 child and adolescent girls from 12 districts, 35 public/private sector schools, located in rural, semi-urban and urban areas of northern, central and southern Punjab were included. Parameters were measured according to standardised techniques and centile curves obtained by Lambda, Mu, Sigma (LMS) method.ResultsThe results showed an increase in weight, height and BMI of the Punjabi girls until 15 years. When compared with international growth references, weight and BMI in our population were significantly lowered; however, height was lower during 12–16 years of age and the differences observed were more pronounced with CDC as compared to WHO. When 3rd, 50th and 90th percentiles of weight, height and BMI in our population were compared with international standards, the values were lower in our paediatric population.ConclusionThe Punjabi schoolgirls significantly differed from CDC and WHO references, and this difference should be taken into consideration for evaluation of growth abnormalities in our paediatric population. However, in the absence of national reference data, WHO standards have been considered more appropriate for comparison.

A review of research on the growth of multinational enterprises: A Penrosean lens

We provide a comprehensive review of the growth of multinational enterprises (MNEs) based on a quarter-century (25 years) of scholarly international business publications. We synthesize research insights on the determinants of the growth of MNEs through the lens of Penrose’s theory of firm growth, which is the most influential theoretical perspective on firm growth. The review takes stock of the research findings on the facilitators, constraints, and the trajectory of growth of MNEs, and elaborates on the commonalities and differences between research on the growth of MNEs that draws on Penrose’s theory and research that does not. This comparison highlights the opportunity to build an internally coherent theory of the growth of MNEs, that is, a theory that connects ‘what an MNE is’ to ‘what determines an MNE’s growth.’ It also indicates that past research placed a strong emphasis on exogenous factors (e.g., cross-country distances) as key constraints on growth even though the Penrosean lens suggests a close consideration of endogenous factors that drive international growth, as well as endogenizing the ostensibly exogenous growth determinants. The review highlights the importance of firm-specific managerial knowledge and learning, which shapes the direction of the growth of MNEs and ensures its administrative coherence.

Vicarious Learning: How Entrepreneurs Enhance a Firm's International Competitiveness Through Learning From Interlocking Director Network Partners.

Applying the lens of entrepreneurial psychology, this paper examines vicarious learning as an approach that entrepreneurs can use to overcome external uncertainty of overseas investments by accumulating international know-how and experience through interlocking director connections with other experienced companies. Through the analysis of a sample of Chinese companies, our findings suggest that entrepreneurs obtaining foreign experience from interlocking partners can significantly promote their firm’s international growth when investing in the same country, and that this positive effect is significant in relation to both first-degree and second-degree connections. We further find that, if an entrepreneur makes a connection with an interlocking partner in the same industry, it enhances their knowledge absorption, thereby providing a positive moderating effect, while investing in a country with a strong degree of openness weakens the effect of knowledge application, and thus plays a negative moderating role. This study makes practical and theoretical contributions by exploring specific vicarious learning means for entrepreneurs to enhance their firm’s international competitiveness, and also identifying three different learning processes.

A study on the responsiveness of the environment to international trade, energy consumption, and economic growth. The case of Ghana

AbstractThe study examined the responsiveness of the environment of Ghana to changes in key economic indicators such as the international trade, energy consumption, urbanization, economic growth, and financial development. Our study utilized the ecological footprint as the indicator for environmental degradation as it encompasses the entire ecosystem that supports humankind consumption and activities. Consequently, the use of ecological footprint gives a clear and a bigger picture of environmental degradation than any individual pollutant(s). This study takes into cognizance the influence of structural break in the time series variables. The findings from the dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) established the existence of an inverted N‐shaped environmental degradation‐economic growth relationship for Ghana under the cubic EKC framework. The ARDL bound testing approach confirmed the presence of long‐run cointegration among the variables. Furthermore, the bootstrap causality revealed a unidirectional causality running from energy consumption to export and urbanization to export. Our study, therefore, advocates for the production and consumption of enhanced energy‐efficient products and commodities among the populace of Ghana.

Relationship learning: A conduit for internationalization

Internationalization opportunities can emerge through inter-organizational sharing, yet research on why and how organizations learn through relationship interactions is underdeveloped. We explore how learning in supplier-customer relationships contributes to organizational offerings through the knowledge development process. We identify relationship learning as an organizational dynamic capability by thematic analysis of qualitative longitudinal data from large as well as small and medium-sized organizations. Our case study of organizations demonstrates that nurturing personal relationships and paying attention to customer communication is core in knowledge sharing. Customer input is valuable in solution offerings, strengthening mutual work, and growth in internationalization within an existing relationship or in new ones. The results endorse that the knowledge development processes and commitments transpire at both ends of the relationship. The findings provide practical managerial implications for ensuring the development of open and transparent communication conduits in relationships. The process of providing a solution that addresses customers' needs must begin with understanding their work, issues, and the intended jobs they will perform.

Influence of policy, operational and market conditions on seaport efficiency in newly emerging economies: the case of Vietnam

ABSTRACT Located in Southeast Asia as one of the most dynamic economic regions in the world and close to north-south shipping routes, Vietnam’s seaports play a vital role in promoting its international trade and economic growth. And yet, most ports are small and owned by the public sector. Their performance is subject to various factors relating to government policy, operational and market conditions. Although the Government has been trying to improve the sector’s performance through corporatization, its corporatization model is unique in many ways compared with reform models in other countries. This study seeks to analyse the effects of government policy, operational and market conditions among other factors, on Vietnamese seaports’ efficiency. Double-bootstrap data envelopment analysis (DEA) and univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using the data sample of 41 ports for years 2015 and 2016. The analysis results show that the factors of production, regional location and reform policy had a significant impact on port performance.

A U-shaped curve phenomenon of international language on output growth: empirical evidence

ABSTRACTThe contribution of international language proficiency on output growth for an economy is generally considered to be monotonously positive, at least irrelevant or non-negative. Nonetheless, the inference seems suspicious if one ponders over this from an aggregate aspect. This study hypothesizes a U-shaped curve for the proposition and conducts an empirical analysis with 40 non-English-speaking countries based on the English Proficiency Index (EPI) from 2011 to 2016, developed by Education First. The outcome reveals that along with an increase in EPI, the effect on growth is shown initially to be negative and then turns positive. Accordingly, while plotting the relationship between the two variables on a two-dimensional graph, a U-shaped curve appears, and the lowest turning point is located at 57.42 of the EPI. It is further manifested that during the sample period, about 36% of the observations yielded a positive effect, but the others were non-positive. Finally, the empirical analysis also shows that two-way feedback causality exists between the international language proficiency and output growth.

Contribution of International Trade and Capital Accumulation to Economic Growth of Thailand during the last half of the 20th century

The present paper examines the links between international trade, capital and economic growth in Thailand from 1950 to 2000 in an applied growth model including exchange rate as a control variable. Prior to 1980 the elasticity of per capita income with respect to trade was -0.2% switching to 0.07% in 1980 in line with the change from resource exports and import substitution to manufactured exports. The exchange rateelasticity of per capita income prior to 1980 was 0.4% switching to -0.2% consistent with the move to a floating exchange rate. Results confirm the overriding theoretical importance of investment to economic growth

Intercostal vessel screening prior to pleural interventions by the respiratory physician: a prospective study of real world practice.

The rising incidence of pleural disease is seeing an international growth of pleural services, with physicians performing an ever-increasing volume of pleural interventions. These are frequently conducted at sites without immediate access to thoracic surgery or interventional radiology and serious complications such as pleural bleeding are likely to be under-reported. To assess whether intercostal vessel screening can be performed by respiratory physicians at the time of pleural intervention, as an additional step that could potentially enhance safe practice. This was a prospective, observational study of 596 ultrasound-guided pleural procedures conducted by respiratory physicians and trainees in a tertiary centre. Operators did not have additional formal radiology training. Intercostal vessel screening was performed using a low frequency probe and the colour Doppler feature. The intercostal vessels were screened in 95% of procedures and the intercostal artery (ICA) was successfully identified in 53% of cases. Screening resulted in an overall site alteration rate of 16% in all procedures, which increased to 30% when the ICA was successfully identified. This resulted in procedure abandonment in 2% of cases due to absence of a suitable entry site. Intercostal vessel screening was shown to be of particular value in the context of image-guided pleural biopsy. Intercostal vessel screening is a simple and potentially important additional step that can be performed by respiratory physicians at the time of pleural intervention without advanced ultrasound expertise. Whether the widespread use of this technique can improve safety requires further evaluation in a multi-centre setting with a robust prospective study.

Linear and Nonlinear Causal Relationships Between International Reserves and Economic Growth: Evidence from India

This study investigates linear and nonlinear causal relationships between accumulated international reserves (IR) and economic growth (Econ) in the case of India. The present study is carried out using quarterly data ranging from the period of the first quarter of 1985 to the fourth quarter of 2014. The study used econometric tools such as the augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) unit root test, the linear Granger causality test, Johansen’s cointegration test, the Brock, Dechert and Scheinkman (BDS) test and the nonlinear Granger causality test developed by Hiemstra and Jones. The study establishes that there exists a bidirectional linear causality. The Hiemstra and Jones test reveals a bidirectional nonlinear causal relationship between the variables. In light of these results, the study suggests that reserves accumulation can be implemented in India provided that excess of reserves are invested in alternative sources such as economic infrastructure projects and regional infrastructure development.