Title: Competitiveness gap and host country effects of FDI in the new OECD

Authors: Peter Zámborský

Addresses: The University of Auckland Business School, Owen G Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Road, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand

Abstract: This paper analyses the relationship between foreign direct investment intensity and labour productivity of manufacturing industries in 14 OECD countries including the recent OECD members from Central Europe: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. I find the relationship between industry-level FDI intensity and labour productivity in the four new OECD members was significant and positive in 1992-2003 but weaker than in other OECD nations. The study builds on the FDI spillover literature analysing the 'technology gap' between foreign entrants and local firms originating from the host country. I introduce a concept of a 'competitiveness gap' that accounts for differences in intangible assets and labour productivity between foreign entrants and all firms in the host country industry (including foreign ones already there). My theoretical discussion and empirical findings confirm that industries with a low competitiveness gap benefited most from FDI in Central Europe in the medium run.

Keywords: foreign direct investment; FDI spillovers; competitiveness gap; technology gap; Central and Eastern Europe; CEE; OECD; international trade; global markets; labour productivity; manufacturing industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTGM.2012.049982

International Journal of Trade and Global Markets, 2012 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.336 - 354

Received: 10 Aug 2011
Accepted: 02 May 2012

Published online: 31 Dec 2014 *

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