Erforth, Benedikt / Niels Keijzer (2020) External Publications
Tsegai, Daniel / Michael Brüntrup (2017) External Publications
Loewe, Markus et al. (2015) External Publications
Brandi, Clara / Katrin Kamin / Rainer Thiele (2025) External Publications
Berger, Axel / Clara Brandi (2016) Briefing Paper 10/2016
The G20 should assume a more proactive role with regard to the future of the world trading system.A reform is needed in light of the growing fragmentation of the system and the 2030 Agenda, which calls for sustainability to be the core principle of global cooperation.
Vrolijk, Kasper (2023) External Publications
There is no consensus about the benefits and drawbacks in foreign direct investments. In the aggregate, is there an economic logic to attracting it? Kasper Vrolijk studies the case of Uganda and finds both positive technology spillovers and negative market competition, with the latter occurring mostly through domestic buyer-supplier linkages. The Ugandan case shows that policies that curb some of the negative effects may be needed.
Vrolijk, Kasper (2021) External Publications
Despite the increasing foreign investment in many African economies, their participation in trade, and the economic growth that follows from it, structural transformation has remained limited. This blog takes a look at Ethiopia’s industrial policy and argues that the government has failed to sufficiently emphasize innovation in—and technology transfer to—domestic firms, leading to minimal “upgrading” of low to high value-added activities.
Berger, Axel / Mashayekhi, Mina / Smeets, Maarten (2025) External Publications
Ali, Murad (2025) Books
This book has come up with the most up-to-date, comprehensive and objective analysis of China’s investments in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. It covers the broad range of Sino-Pakistan relations in the backdrop of Pakistan’s complex political, governance, security, socio-environmental and technological challenges that hinder implementation of CPEC projects.
Berensmann, Kathrin (2016) External Publications
Online, 12. January 2022
The online seminar series aims to encourage the exchange and discussion of empirical research on trade and investment and its effects on developing and emerging countries. The seminar differs from a traditional academic seminar, which focuses on methodology and academic exchange, and instead aims to promote the translation of academic…
Stürmer, Martin (2008) Briefing Paper 9/2008
Ariyapruchya, Swisa / Ulrich Volz (2022) External Publications
Pauw, Pieter (2015) External Publications
Brandi, Clara / San Bilal / Max Mendez-Parra (2015) External Publications
Hilbrich, Sören (2022) The Current Column, 28. March 2022
The EU taxonomy for sustainable activities is a grand experiment. It carries the promise to define objectives for private enterprises that go beyond the pure maximisation of profits.
Wolff, Peter (2014) The Current Column, 10. November 2014
When the G20 leaders meet next week in Brisbane, Australia, there are sure to be few issues that they will agree on. There will, however, be one subject upon which they can agree: infrastructure.
Wolff, Peter (2017) The Current Column, 15. May 2017
Last weekend saw Chinese President Xi Jinping welcome guests to Beijing for a major Silk Road forum. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a central element of Chinese globalisation strategy and Xi‘s reputation is closely tied to the initiative. Under its aegis the plan is to establish a network of transport, energy and communications through Asia to Europe and Africa. Doubts about BRI have recently been increasing.
The expanded presence of multinational enterprises in the world raises questions about how a country benefits from foreign direct investment. I review the evidence on global value chains (firms organising production across multiple countries) and “superstar firms”, those accounting for a large share of overall economic activity, with market concentration. I find that governments might have to adopt firm-specific policies, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of providing subsidies to attract multinationals.
Online, 08. June 2022
