The process of globalization can be seen in the increase of: trade interdependence, the importance of global multinational corporations, mobility and volatility of capital flows (with dangers demonstrated by the recent Mexican crisis). This globalization creates both dangers and new opportunities, both winners and losers. The parallel growth of regional blocs is equally hazardous, particularly for countries left outside the regional blocs. The book, with contributions by eminent experts, describes the impact of both globalization and regionalization and the relationship between these two dominant trends.

'Written in a clear and straightforward style, and well grounded in succinct and pertinent analysis...It will prove a boon to students and practitioners alike as moves proceed towards European integration.' - British Book News;This volume identifies and analyses the extent to which the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are likely to attract inward foreign direct investment (FDI) to the turn of the century. Although these countries have been growing recipients of FDI, Western multinationals remain cautious and are slow to commit large investment sums. The book covers the contextual and thematic aspects of FDI as well as empirical country studies (including the Commonwealth of Independent States, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia) which address the legal environment for FDI, its magnitude and motives and industrial breakdown. The final section discusses the potential for closer economic and political integration in Europe.

The process of economi c coopera t i on among devel oping countrie s ha s come a l ong way s i nce the ea rl y 1960s . A l ong s i de the movement f rom the e s tab l i s hment of reg i onal and subreg i on a l i n tegration and cooperati on g rou p i ngs to the e l aborati on of concepts and a pproaches for g l obal and i nterreg i onal coopera t i on ( such a s , for exampl e , the scheme for a gl oba l sys tem of trade preferences a mong deve l o p ing countries ) , there has b een a n exten s ion of the scope of coopera t i on , ori g ina l l y focused on trade , to other a rea s , i ncl u d ing moneta ry a n d f i nan c i a l ma tters , produ c t ion , ma rketing , and s o on . Today , the proce s s of economic cooperation among deve l o p ing countri es occu p i e s an i mportan t pl ace i n the economi c s t rategies a n d pol ic ies of devel o p i n g countrie s and , in recent years , wit h the marked deteri o ration in the wo rl d economi c s i tu a t io n and the wea ken i ng of i n ternat i onal cooperati on for deve l opmen t , it has acqu ired even grea ter importa nce and u rgency . I n deed , i n v iew of the pro s pects for the worl d economy for th e comi n g yea rs , i t h a s b ecome an i mpera t i ve i f the devel oping cou n t ries a re going to b e abl e to env i sage the transformation of their economies and the g rowth ra tes th ey need .

The process of economi c coopera t i on among devel oping countrie s ha s come a l ong way s i nce the ea rl y 1960s . A l ong s i de the movement f rom the e s tab l i s hment of reg i onal and subreg i on a l i n tegration and cooperati on g rou p i ngs to the e l aborati on of concepts and a pproaches for g l obal and i nterreg i onal coopera t i on ( such a s , for exampl e , the scheme for a gl oba l sys tem of trade preferences a mong deve l o p ing countries ) , there has b een a n exten s ion of the scope of coopera t i on , ori g ina l l y focused on trade , to other a rea s , i ncl u d ing moneta ry a n d f i nan c i a l ma tters , produ c t ion , ma rketing , and s o on . Today , the proce s s of economic cooperation among deve l o p ing countri es occu p i e s an i mportan t pl ace i n the economi c s t rategies a n d pol ic ies of devel o p i n g countrie s and , in recent years , wit h the marked deteri o ration in the wo rl d economi c s i tu a t io n and the wea ken i ng of i n ternat i onal cooperati on for deve l opmen t , it has acqu ired even grea ter importa nce and u rgency . I n deed , i n v iew of the pro s pects for the worl d economy for th e comi n g yea rs , i t h a s b ecome an i mpera t i ve i f the devel oping cou n t ries a re going to b e abl e to env i sage the transformation of their economies and the g rowth ra tes th ey need .

FDI has proved to be the most dynamic defensive and offensive response to globalization. This book provides an in-depth evaluation of the rationale as well as theoretical and empirical explanations of the outward internationalization of firms from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. The authors present the first broader empirical evidence on transition economies' OFDI and internationalization, evaluate the role of transnational companies from transition economies and development implications of outward internationalization for home economies. They put the experience of firms from transition economies into the framework of existing theories, study to what extent are the experiences of Austria, Portugal and Finland applicable to transition economies, illustrate general macro economic trends of the international business practices of firms from transition economies by case studies, examine the main determinants and barriers to the outward internationalization process, offer a representative set of cases and best business/government practices relevant for other transition economies, identify specificity in internationalization by firms from transition economies due to transition processes and systemic background and apply network theory as a complementary explanation for such internationalization due to former historical ties and cultural vicinities. A pioneering work on outward investment by transition economies, this book is the first in the world to present a more systematic analysis of the internationalization of firms from transition economies, based on results of the two ACE projects: "Outward internationalization facilitating transformation and EU Accession; The case of Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia" and "Networking Through OFDI" including also Poland and Estonia.

FDI has proved to be the most dynamic defensive and offensive response to globalization. This book provides an in-depth evaluation of the rationale as well as theoretical and empirical explanations of the outward internationalization of firms from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. The authors present the first broader empirical evidence on transition economies' OFDI and internationalization, evaluate the role of transnational companies from transition economies and development implications of outward internationalization for home economies. They put the experience of firms from transition economies into the framework of existing theories, study to what extent are the experiences of Austria, Portugal and Finland applicable to transition economies, illustrate general macro economic trends of the international business practices of firms from transition economies by case studies, examine the main determinants and barriers to the outward internationalization process, offer a representative set of cases and best business/government practices relevant for other transition economies, identify specificity in internationalization by firms from transition economies due to transition processes and systemic background and apply network theory as a complementary explanation for such internationalization due to former historical ties and cultural vicinities. A pioneering work on outward investment by transition economies, this book is the first in the world to present a more systematic analysis of the internationalization of firms from transition economies, based on results of the two ACE projects: "Outward internationalization facilitating transformation and EU Accession; The case of Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia" and "Networking Through OFDI" including also Poland and Estonia.

The process of globalization can be seen in the increase of: trade interdependence, the importance of global multinational corporations, mobility and volatility of capital flows (with dangers demonstrated by the recent Mexican crisis). This globalization creates both dangers and new opportunities, both winners and losers. The parallel growth of regional blocs is equally hazardous, particularly for countries left outside the regional blocs. The book, with contributions by eminent experts, describes the impact of both globalization and regionalization and the relationship between these two dominant trends.

'Written in a clear and straightforward style, and well grounded in succinct and pertinent analysis...It will prove a boon to students and practitioners alike as moves proceed towards European integration.' - British Book News This volume identifies and analyses the extent to which the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are likely to attract inward foreign direct investment (FDI) to the turn of the century. Although these countries have been growing recipients of FDI, Western multinationals remain cautious and are slow to commit large investment sums. The book covers the contextual and thematic aspects of FDI as well as empirical country studies (including the Commonwealth of Independent States, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia) which address the legal environment for FDI, its magnitude and motives and industrial breakdown. The final section discusses the potential for closer economic and political integration in Europe.