Foreign Direct Investment in Central and Eastern Europe: Post-crisis Perspectives (Studies in Economic Transition)

This book examines how foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Central and Eastern Europe have changed after the Great Recession. It argues that beyond their cyclical effects, the economic crisis and the changing competitiveness of Central and Eastern European countries have had structural impacts on FDI in the region. FDI has traditionally been viewed as the key driver of national development, but the apparent structural shift means that focusing on cheap labour as a competitive advantage is no longer a viable strategy for the countries in the region. The authors argue that these countries need to move beyond the narrative of upgrading (attracting FDI inflows with increasingly higher value added), and focus on ensuring greater value capture instead. A potential way for doing this is by developing the conditions in which innovative national companies can emerge, thrive and eventually develop into lead firms of global value chains. The book provides readers with a highly informative account of the reasons why this shift is necessary, as well as diverse perspectives and extensive discussions on the dynamics and structural impacts of FDI in post-crisis Central and Eastern Europe. Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Introduction: The Changing Patterns of FDI....Pages 1-22 Post-crisis Crossroads for FDI in CEE....Pages 23-49 Czech FDI Performance: Between Global Value Chains and Domestic Reforms....Pages 51-75 Foreign Direct Investment in Slovakia: The Tatra Tiger Gone Tame?....Pages 77-98 Latecomers May Be Admitted: Foreign Direct Investment Between the CEE Countries....Pages 99-126 Upgrading and Value Capture in Global Value Chains in Hungary: More Complex than What the Smile Curve Suggests....Pages 127-150 Inequalities of Accumulation: The Case of Central and Eastern Europe....Pages 151-169 Multinational Banks: Protective Factors of Financial Stability in Central and Eastern Europe?....Pages 171-192 Investment Promotion in the Visegrad Countries: A Comparative Analysis....Pages 193-217 Competitiveness and Investment Promotion in Bulgaria and Romania....Pages 219-240 Conclusions: Prospects for FDI-Led Development in a Post-crisis World....Pages 241-257 Back Matter....Pages 259-266