Strategies of Multinational Corporations and Social Regulations : European and Asian Perspectives

This contributed volume seeks to provide a unique window on the globalization process by analyzing the dynamics of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Europe and Asia, as well as its influence on the renewal of public policies and regulations, both transnational and local. It discusses the link between the trans-nationalization of productive and business systems and the renewal of local regulations in the light of concerns over competitiveness and attractiveness, as well as new social tensions. Multinational corporations (MNCs) as key actors of globalization are central for understanding the new interactions between the global, regional and local dimensions as well as for highlighting the challenges of regulation both at transnational level and within national boundaries. Research approaches along two broad lines are presented: First, a theoretical and empirical approach that examines links between the strategies of multinationals and local public policy in order to contribute to a better understanding of the institutional dynamics of social regulation. Second, a comparative approach that compares regional spaces, with particular attention to Europe on the one hand, and to the two great emerging powers, China and India, on the other. Front Matter....Pages i-vi Introduction....Pages 1-15 Front Matter....Pages 17-17 Catching-Up and Integration in New and Future EU Member States Through FDI....Pages 19-36 The Internationalisation of Chinese Firms: Growth, Motivations and Strategies....Pages 37-54 Front Matter....Pages 55-55 From Dirigisme to Realism: Chinese Industrial Policy in the Era of Globalisation....Pages 57-76 Indian Firms in World Production: The State, Markets, and Innovation....Pages 77-91 Joint Ventures, Technology Acquisition and Emerging Multinationals: The Case of the Chinese Automotive Industry....Pages 93-106 Multinational Corporations, Sub-national Governance and Human Resources: A Cross-national Comparison for Europe....Pages 107-121 Front Matter....Pages 123-123 Internationalisation Process, HRM Strategy and Transfer in Chinese MNCs’ Subsidiaries in the UK....Pages 125-135 Between Europe and Asia: Labour Relations in German Companies in Russia and China....Pages 137-153 The Revival of State Interventionism and European Industrial Relations: Some Lessons from a Survey....Pages 155-172 Front Matter....Pages 173-173 Guangdong Economic Rebalancing and Its Implication for the Labor Market....Pages 175-192 New Social Conflicts in the Guangdong Province: Historical and Sociological Perspectives....Pages 193-201 The Dynamics and Dilemma of Workplace Trade Union Reform in China: The Case of Honda Workers’ Strike....Pages 203-217 Domestic Labor Regulation and Foreign Business Influence: The Case of the Guangdong “Transnational Capitalism”....Pages 219-240