Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Real property, foreign countries'

Property rights are an important subject of economic theory and as a product of institutional qualities an essential determinant of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The purpose of this study is to examine how middle income countries with, on average, weak property rights can attract investments from abroad, given their (formal) institutions, and if differences in institutional qualities have an effect on FDI inflows. Using a panel approach to observe a sample of 20 countries over ten years, we find that there is mixed evidence supporting this theory. Whilst the theoretical background suggests that institutional qualities do affect a country’s ability to attract or deter investments, we cannot conclude a significant effect in our results. Furthermore, the study concludes that certain products of institutional qualities (democracy, corruption) can lead to mixed effects on the net inflows of FDI, but that an important determinant is the market-size of the country.

Financial crisis of 2008 became critical period for Swedish economy and its real estate market. During this period Sweden has experienced sharp decrease in transaction volumes. However compare to other EU and global markets, Sweden managed to perform remarkably well and economic recovery has taken place since 2010. The purpose of this master thesis is to outline general trends in the development of Swedish Real Estate market for FDI in the period of 2008-2013 and provide better understanding of foreign investors behavior and the incentives attracted them to invest in Sweden. The deductive approach has been used based on the previous studies and theory. The quantitative data was obtained from scientific and media sources, while qualitative empirical data relies on survey filled in by real estate consultancy companies operating on Swedish market. Research focuses on the analysis of overall market situation and changes occurred during the 5-year period concerning micro/macro economical issues, behavioral factors, country characteristics, business environment, global trends, investors’ behavior and expectations. Theoretical basis for the research is an overview of previous FDI theories. The results reveal that by the end of 5 year period, the situation on the market became much more favorable with strong recovery as for the end of 2013. Compare to after crisis 2009, when foreign transactions volumes were down to 45 bn sek versus 157 bn sek in 2008, the full year transaction volume 2013 was SEK 99 bn which is in line with 15 year historic average. In 2013 international investment share is amounted to 12%, the most active are institutional investors from Norway, Finland, UK, Germany and US. Overall foreign investors are willing to operate on Swedish market in the future, searching for high yields at low risk levels within safe, transparent and liquid, highly developed business environment with good economical and politically stable regimes. However difficulties with accessing finance and lack of prime quality assets on the market became the main drawbacks for foreign investors on the Swedish market during last years.

Real estate investments are more frequently crossing borders. The national cultural differences, which are influencing investment preferences and decision processes, are challenging Real Estate Companies, whereas not only capital, but also individuals are moving more frequently across country borders. Real Estate Companies’ risk profile concerning uncertainty avoidance, regarding real  estate investments haven’t  been studied before, thus a gap in the literature is identified. This study aims to identify risks, risk management tools, uncertainty avoidance in Real Estate Companies with different national cultural background, helping to develop a deeper understanding of the differences in their risk profiles. I have found that the Israeli respondents are highly uncertainty avoiding and risk loving, but only regarding familiar risks, while concerning unfamiliar risks, they are rather risk averse. The Swedish respondents are weakly uncertainty avoiding and risk neutral, no matter known or unknown ris

Mestrado em Economia Monetária e Financeira
Nosso estudo é com base na recolha de dados relevantes das economias do G20 com a inclusão da Grécia, Portugal, Espanha e Nigéria. Os dados coletados são variados em um período de 35 anos (1980 - 2015) e a metodologia empregada é a Técnica de Regressão Linear na qual três modelos foram estimado, nomeadamente: modelos OLS agrupados, efeitos aleatórios (RE) e efeito fixo (FE). O FE modelo que é nosso modelo preferido e ótimo mostra que a coorte da população em idade de trabalhar - que se diz serem produtivas, têm uma associação depreciadora ao RER doméstico. No entanto, a relação da antiga coorte dependente parece ser ambígua, pois mostra que temos um efeito depreciador sobre o RER doméstico no modelo de referência, tendo uma apreciação efeito sobre o RER doméstico após executar um modelo de forma reduzida - um modelo baseado em dados demográficos variável e termos de troca. Isso só foi interpretado como sendo que nosso modelo não é muito robusto para mostram consistentemente a associação entre a coorte do envelhecimento e o RER de uma economia.
Our study is based on the collection of relevant data from the G20 economies with the inclusion of Greece, Portugal, Spain and Nigeria. The data collected is ranged over a period of 35 years (1980 - 2015) and the methodology employed is the Linear Regression Technique in which three models were estimated, namely: Pooled OLS, Random Effect (RE), and Fixed Effect (FE) models. The FE model which is our preferred and optimal model shows that the working age population cohort - which are said to be productive have a depreciating association to the domestic country RER. However, the relation of the old dependant cohort seems to be ambiguous as it shows us to have a depreciating effect on the domestic RER in the benchmark model while having an appreciating effect on the domestic RER after running a reduced form model - a model based on demographic variable and terms of trade. This was only interpreted to be that our model is not very robust to consistently show the association between the ageing cohort and the RER of an economy.
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Developed, maturing, and emerging market countries are making considerable progress in the legal and institutional reforms necessary to allow and facilitate real estate and tourism (specifically hotel) foreign direct investment (FDI). From a political perspective, countries used to view real estate as one of the "crown jewels" of an economy (Lynn, 2007). No longer does this view hold consistently across countries as countries have recently recognised that real estate and hotel FDI is a way to encourage fixed capital investment, create jobs, and to introduce best practices from multinational corporations. The purpose of this research is to identify the main determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the commercial real estate (CRE) as well as hotel sectors, in selected Middle Eastern countries. Utilising existing theories of FDI, a set of determinants (drivers and barriers) were selected to be empirically tested, utilising Dunning's (Ownership-Location- Internalisation-OLI) eclectic paradigm. As Dunning consider FDI for all industries with a special focus on the manufacturing industry, this research enlarges the scope by commercial real estate and hotels specific considerations. This research utilises the Location dimension of Dunning framework as a basis to explain the determinants of FDI in the CRE and hotel sectors. The literature on both real estate and hotel FDI relies heavily on collecting primary data through surveys; recently however, very few studies (including He & Zhu (2010); He, Wang, & Cheng (2009); Anop (2010) and Rodriguez & Bustillo (2008)) have utilised the availability of data in real estate and started constructing econometric models with the aim of testing set hypotheses. This research fills a gap in the literature by utilising secondary data to develop and test different econometric models, using data from various sources. The empirical work of this research therefore consists of two parts: the first is an econometric analysis of FDI in commercial real estate for eight Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) markets namely, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Tunisia and the UAE during 2003-2009; the second part is an econometric analysis of FDI in hotels for the same countries for the same time period. The econometric analysis is carried out using the pooled Tobin model technique, for panel data, which uses both time-series and cross-sectional data. The findings for the econometric analysis of FDI in commercial real estate shows that country specific factors (i. e. economic health, standards of living and levels human development as well as political stability and absence of violence) as well I as real estate sector-specific variables (size of institutional real estate market), are significant variables and consistently support their hypotheses as explanations for commercial real estate related FDI for the selected MENA countries. The second part of the econometric analysis related to determinants of FDI in hotel greenfield projects, reveals that country specific factors (i. e. taxation environment, human development level and real growth of economy and political stability and absence of violence and terrorism) as well as hotel sector-specific variables (i. e. real visitor expenditure and level of investment freedom); are significant and consistently support their hypotheses as explanations for hotel FDI. These indicators are found to provide -a good explanation of location decision-making in both commercial real estate and hotel sectors.

Cette thèse de doctorat étudie les effets des envois de fonds issus des migrations sur le développement des pays d’origine des migrants et compare ces effets avec ceux de l’aide publique au développement. Dans une première partie, nous étudions les effets des envois de fonds des migrants sur le développement des pays récipiendaires. Il apparaît que les envois de fonds réduisent les inégalités intra-Pays dans les pays relativement plus riches, dont les coûts d’émigration sont faibles et dont la part des émigrés qualifiés est peu importante (Chapitre 1). L’effet sur la croissance économique en Afrique sub-Saharienne est également non-Linéaire et dépend positivement du développement financier et institutionnel des pays récipiendaires (Chapitre 2). Enfin, les envois de fonds ont un effet d’appréciation sur le taux de change réel dans les pays CFA, mais cet effet est non significatif pour les pays à régime de change flexible (Chapitre 3). Dans une seconde partie nous nous intéressons au caractère stabilisateur des transferts des migrants. Le Chapitre 4 montre, au niveau microéconomique, que les envois de fonds ont joué un rôle d’assurance lors de la dernière crise financière et que ce rôle a été d’autant plus important que les migrants n’ont pas été sévèrement touchés par la crise et que les liens conservés avec le pays d’origine étaient forts. Le Chapitre 5 montre à partir d’une approche pays par pays que les transferts sont contra-Cycliques dans une minorité de cas, mais qu’en moyenne, ils répondent négativement au revenu des pays d’origine. Les résultats du Chapitre 6 indiquent que les transferts atténuent l’effet négatif des chocs commerciaux sur la pauvreté. Dans une troisième et dernière partie nous comparons les envois de fonds { l’aide publique au développement. Alors que l’aide permet d’atténuer l’effet négatif de l’instabilité des exportations sur la croissance, les transferts des migrants permettent d’amoindrir l’effet négatif de l’instabilité des exportations sur la pauvreté (Chapitre 7). Enfin, les envois de fonds diminuent la dépendance des pays { l’aide publique au développement lorsque ces flux de capitaux sont investis plutôt que consommés (Chapitre 8)
This dissertation examines the effects of migrant remittances on the development of origin countries and compares these effects with those of official development aid. In a first part we investigate the effects of remittances on the development of recipient countries. Results suggest that remittances reduce within inequality in countries more developed, where migration cost are lower and the share of skilled migrants less important (Chapter 1). Their impact on growth in sub-Saharan Africa is also non-Linear and depends positively on the financial and institutional development of recipient economies (Chapter 2). Finally, remittances have a real exchange appreciation effect in CFA countries, but not in countries with a flexible exchange rate regime (Chapter 3). In a second part we focus on the stabilizing impact of remittances. Chapter 4 shows, at the microeconomic level, that remittances have played an insurance role during the last financial crisis and that this role was all the more acute that migrants have not strongly suffered from the crisis and that family links were strong. Chapter 5 suggests in a country-By-Country approach that remittances are pro-Cyclical in a higher number of cases, while on average, they respond negatively to the home country income. Chapter 6 findings show that remittances dampen the harmful impact of trade instability on poverty. In a third part, we compare migrant remittances with public aid. While public aid mitigates the harmful impact of export instability on output growth, migrant remittances dampen the harmful effect of export instability on poverty (Chapter 7). Finally, migrant remittances reduce aid dependency in countries where remittances are invested rather than consumed (Chapter 8)

The purpose of this research is to generalise the results of the 2000-2010 period development of the Swedish real estate market for FDI and provide a better understanding of it from the point of view of foreign investors. The approach used in the thesis was based on deductive method assuming previous theory and research. Quantitative data relies on both scientific and media sources, qualitative empirical data – on questionnaires filled in by companies involved in real estate FDI process. The study addresses the changes of macro and micro economical issues, cultural, political, geographical patterns, changes of market characteristics, investor preferences and provides an overview of both classical investment theories and FDI theories. The results of current research show that within the indicated 10-year period the major changes in the Swedish property market where: increased difficulties with obtaining finance, higher selectiveness when choosing investment objects, increased use of structured deals, greater importance of diversification, decreased risk and yield levels. The thesis originates from the prior research in the field by KTH scholars - Axelsson, Victrorin (1999), O’Connor (2003) and Falk, Olsén (2009). The main contribution of the current research is adding to the knowledge about real estate FDI and quantifying the changes during the long time-horizon – 2000-2010 period considering both "economical rationale" and "behaviour rationale". Present research may be useful for further investigations in the property FDI area, can provide information for foreign investors about the historical development of the Swedish market and be helpful for analyzing or choosing FDI market strategy.

The major themes of this thesis are the impact of Intellectual Property (IP) systems on foreign direct investment spillovers and bilateral FDI flows. This thesis consists of three empirical studies. The first study integrates in the existing theoretical frameworks the distinct effect of the public IP enforcement element of IP systems on FDI horizontal spillovers. By employing a meta-analysis approach and the ordered probit model estimation technique, it finds that the strength of public IP enforcement in a host country has a positive effect on FDI horizontal spillovers but it dampens the positive effect of IP law protection on FDI horizontal spillovers when it becomes too strong. The second empirical study examines the impact of IP systems on FDI vertical spillovers. This study employs a similar conceptual and empirical approach and finds that the strength of public IP enforcement has a positive effect on FDI vertical spilloversbut a negative moderating effect on the relationship between the strength of IP law protection and FDI vertical spillovers. In the third empirical study, a gravity model is applied to test the effect of IP systems on bilateral FDI flows in OECD countries. Using the Poisson pseudo-maximum-likelihood, it finds both the strength of IP law protection and the strength of public IP enforcement to have a positive effect on bilateral FDI flows. The broad implication of these findings is that countries should strengthen both their IP law protection and enforcement but apply appropriate measures to mitigate the negative effect resulted from excessive IP protection.

Den svenska marknaden för kommersiella fastigheter är het och har varit det under lång tid. Bland annat konstateras i en undersökning från revisionsbolaget Pricewaterhouse Coopers och Urban Land Institute att Stockholm, efter London och Paris, just nu rankas som Europas tredje mest attraktiva stad för utländska investerare att köpa och äga fastigheter i.

Detta väckte vår nyfikenhet att konkretisera de faktorer som kan ha lett fram till att utländska fastighetsinvesterare attraheras av den svenska fastighetsmarknaden.

Genom att vända oss till företag med stor inblick i de förhållanden som råder på den svenska fastighetsmarknaden fick vi intervjusvar från fem representanter.

Arbetet med teorin gjorde att vi förväntade oss ett visst svar men intervjuerna gav oss ett helt annat resultat. Denna uppsats belyser många faktorer som gör Sveriges fastighetsmarknad lättillgänglig. Dock påvisar vår studie att framförallt transparensen och likviditeten på den svenska fastighetsmarknaden är det som gör den så intressant för utländska investerare.

Transparensen på den svenska fastighetsmarknaden, som är en stor konkurrensfördel på den globala marknaden, hotas av skattetekniska konstruktioner. Att inte förlora denna fördel på den internationella investeringsmarknaden är ett problem som måste lösas. Hur detta ska ske är ett uppslag för en fortsatt studie.

The Swedish market of commercial real estate is really sizzling and has been so for some years now. In an analysis made by the audit company Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Urban Land Institute it was stated that Stockholm, succeeding London and Paris, is ranked as the third most attractive city for foreign investors in terms of buying and owning real estate property.

This made us curious to try to pin-point any factors which might have lead to foreign investors interest in the Swedish real estate market.

By turning to companies with very good insight in the business and knowledge about the conditions concerning the Swedish real estate market, we are grateful for received interview results by courtesy of five representatives.

Our work with background theories lead us to expect a certain answer, but the results of our survey surprised us with a different result. This thesis highlights many factors making the Swedish real estate market so favourable to investors, but the most prominent elements are the facts that the Swedish market is very transparent with a high level of liquidity.

For the Swedish real estate market the big advantage in global competition is named transparency, but this advantage is threatened by taxation techniques to maximise profit. Not to loose this Swedish benefit on the international investment market is a problem yet to be solved.

This study exammes the impact of macroeconomic and financial variables on the performance of the housing property market in South Africa using monthly data for the period January 1996 to June 2008. Orthogonalised and non-orthogonalised house price returns and real estate returns are utilised as proxies for the housing property market in separate models. Three main issues were empirically analysed in relation to the linkage between selected variables and the housing property market. The first aspect examined the relationship between selected macroeconomic and financial factors and property returns. Secondly, the study examined the influence that a unit shock to each variable has on property returns over a period of time. The third aspect focused on determining the proportion of property returns variation that results from changes in the macroeconomic and financial variables. VAR modelling was thus adopted to empirically analyse these three aspects. The results reveal that house price returns are influenced by most of the macroeconomic and financial variables used in this study. Specifically, the real effective exchange rate, interest rate spread and manufacturing production positively impact on house price returns while the domestic interest rate, the dividend yield and expected inflation have a negative effect. Furthermore, manufacturing production has a lagged effect on house price returns while the real effective exchange rate and domestic interest rate have a contemporaneous effect. Real estate returns are not influenced by most of the variables except for the domestic interest rate and dividend yield which have a negative effect.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In October 1999 South Africa and the European Union (EU) signed a free trade agreement, the Trade Development and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA), which came into effect on 1 January 2000. The TDCA was developed to enhance bilateral trade, economic-, political- and social cooperation and consists of three components - the creation of a Free Trade Area between South-Africa and the EU, EU financial aid to South Africa through the European Programme for Reconstruction and Development (EPRD), and project aid. However, the EU, in an effort to secure the best possible deal for itself, often behave in its own interests (through the manipulation of the Wine and Spirits Agreement) during the negotiations for the TDCA. The goal of this study was to establish what exactly trademarks are, and what implications the EU's protection of intellectual property rights on wine and spirits trademarks will have on i) the South African wine industry, ii) whether South Africa could have exercised another option, iii) whether this action has created a precedent with which the EU can, in future, again force South Africa or any of its other developing trade partners to make concessions, and iv) who gains the most from the TDCA. The concludes that the EU, through the manipulation of the Wine and Spirits Agreement, left South Africa with no choice by to concede the use of the contested trademarks - something that has already taken its toll on the South African wine industry - in order to save the TDCA. This action created a precedent that the EU will, in future, again be in a position to threaten developing countries with the termination of an agreement should they fail to comply with its demands. Finally, the conclusion is made that even though the TDCA was created to assist South Africa with its reintegration into the world market, it will ultimately be the EU that benefits most from the agreement.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika en die Europese Unie (EU) het in Oktober 1999 In vryehandelsooreenkoms, die Trade Development and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA) onderteken, wat op 1 Januarie 2000 in werking getree het. Die TDCA is ontwerp om bilaterale handel-, ekonomiese-, politieke- en sosiale samewerking te bevorder en bestaan uit drie komponente, naamlik die skep van 'n vryehandelgebied tussen die EU en Suid-Afrika; finansiele steun deur die EU aan Suid-Afrika onder die European Programme for Reconstruction and Development (EPRD) en projekhulp. Die EU het egter dikwels in eiebelang opgetree (deur middel van die manipulasie van die Wyn- en Spiritus Ooreenkoms) tydens die onderhandelingsproses in 'n poging om die beste moontlike ooreenkoms vir homself te beding. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal wat presies handelsmerke is, en watter implikasies die EU se beskerming van intellektuele eiendomsregte aangaande wyn- en spiritushandelsmerke op i) die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf sal he, ii) of Suid-Afrika 'n ander opsie kon uitoefen, iii) of hierdie aksie In presedent geskep het waarmee die EU Suid-Afrika of enige van sy ander ontwikkelende handelsvennote in die toekoms weer sal kan dwing om toegewings te maak, en iv) wie die meeste baat vind by die TDCA. Die studie het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die EU deur die manipulasie van die Wyn- en Spiritus Ooreenkoms aan Suid-Afrika geen keuse gegee het nie as om die gebruik van die betwiste handelsmerke op te se - iets wat reeds die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf geknou het - in 'n poging om die TDCA te behou. Hierdie optrede skep 'n presedent dat die EU voortaan in onderhandelings met ander ontwikkelende state weer kan dreig om die hele ooreenkoms te verongeluk indien daar nie aan sy eise voldoen word nie. In die laaste instansie is daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat, alhoewel die TDCA daarop gemik was om Suid-Afrika te help met sy herintegrasie tot die wereldmark, dit uiteindelik die EU is wat die meeste daarby gaan baat.

Thesis (LLM)--University of Stellenbosch, 1999.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis deals with the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) between the European Union and the Republic of South Africa, which was concluded in October 1999. In particular, the agreement is analysed in the light of the negotiating process between the parties, the contents of the agreement, the applicability of WTO law and the compatibility of the agreement with it and the Port and Sherry Agreement. Since the EU emphasised its aim to commence economic and development cooperation with other African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries on a reciprocal basis during the negotiations for a successor of the Lomé Convention, the TDCA between the EU and South Africa had to be seen as a "pilot project" for future cooperation agreements between countries at different levels of development. The TDCA between the EU and South Africa is therefore not only very important for the two concerned parties, but could serve as an example for further negotiations between the EU and other ACP countries. Thus the purpose of this thesis is to examine the TDCA between the EU and South Africa from a wider global perspective. The thesis is divided into six Chapters: The first Chapter provides an introduction to the circumstances under which the negotiations between the EU and South Africa commenced. It deals briefly with the economic situation in South Africa during the apartheid era and presents reasons why the parties wanted to enter into bilateral negotiations. The introductory part furthermore presents an overview of the contents of the thesis. The second chapter contains a detailed description of the negotiating process that took place between the parties and shows why it took 43 months and 21 rounds of negotiations to reach a deal. South Africa's partial accession to the Lomé Convention and the conclusion of separate agreements such as the Wine and Spirits Agreement, are also analysed. Chapter three presents the various components of the TOCA and illustrates what the negotiators achieved. This chapter on the TOCA concludes with an evaluation of the Agreement and shows the potential benefits to South Africa and the EU. Since the Agreement had to satisfy international rules, the provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and TradelWorld Trade Organisation (GATTIWTO) were of major importance. The EC Treaty, however, does not contain any provision that indicates whether, or how, an international agreement like the GATTIWTO penetrates the Community legal order. In Chapter four, accordingly, questions are raised regarding the extent to which the bilateral agreement between South Africa and the EU was influenced by the GATTIWTO provisions and how these rules were incorporated into the agreement. Furthermore, since the parties agreed on the establishment of a free trade area, this chapter deals with the question of in how far the TOCA is in line with Article XXIV GATT. In addition to the GATT provisions, the TOCA is also affected by the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs). Therefore Chapter five deals with TRIPs in connection with the TOCA. The use of the terms "Port" and "Sherry" as the major stumbling block to the conclusion of the TOCA is analysed more closely. The final part, namely Chapter six, provides a summary of the results of the investigation. Furthermore, a conclusion is provided with regard to the question of whether the TOeA can be seen as an example for further trade relations between the EU and other ACP countries.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis is gerig op die Handels-, Ontwikkelings- en Samewerkingsooreenkoms (TDGA) tussen die Europese Unie (EU) en die Republiek van Suid Afrika wat in Oktober 1999 gesluit is. Die ooreenkoms word veral in die lig van die onderhandelingsproses tussen die partye, die inhoud van die ooreenkoms, die toepaslikheid van Wêreldhandelsorganisasiereg en die versoenbaarheid daarvan met die ooreenkoms en die Port en Sjerrie-ooreenkoms ontleed. Aangesien die EU sy oogmerk van wederkerige ekonomiese en ontwikkelings-gerigte samewerking met ander lande in Afrika en die Karibiese en Stille Oseaan-Eilande gedurende die onderhandelings vir 'n opvolger van die Lomé Konvensie beklemtoon het, moes die ooreenkoms tussen die EU en Suid-Afrika as 'n "loodsprojek" vir toekomstige samewerkingsooreenkomste tussen lande wat op verskillende vlakke van onwikkeling is, gesien word. Die Handels-, Ontwikkelings- en Samewerkingsooreenkoms tussen die EU en Suid-Afrika is dus nie net baie belangrik vir die betrokke partye nie, maar dit kan ook as 'n voorbeeld vir verdere onderhandelings tussen die EU en lande van Afrika en die Karibiese- en Stille Oseaan-Eilande dien. Die doel van dié tesis is om die Handels-, Ontwikkelings- en Samewekingsooreenkoms tussen die EU en Suid-Afrika vanuit 'n meer globale perspektief te beskou. Die tesis is in ses Hoofstukke ingedeel: Die eerste hoofstuk bied 'n inleiding tot die omstandighede waaronder die onderhandelings tussen die EU en Suid-Afrika begin het. Dit behandel die Suid- Afrikaanse ekonomiese situasie onder apartheid kortliks en toon hoekom die partye tweesydige onderhandelings wou aanknoop. Verder bied die inleidende deel 'n oorsig oor die inhoud van die tesis. Die tweede hoofstuk bevat 'n gedetailleerde beskrywing van die onderhandelingsproses wat tussen die partye plaasgevind het en toon aan waarom dit drie-en-veertig maande geduur het en een-en-twintig onderhandelingsrondtes gekos het om die saak te beklink. Suid-Afrika se gedeeltelike toetrede tot die Lomé Konvensie en die sluit van aparte ooreenkomste soos die Port- en Sjerrieooreenkoms word ook ontleed. Die daaropvolgende hoofstuk bespreek die verskillende komponente van die Handels-, Ontwikkelings- en Samewerkingsooreenkoms en toon wat die onderhandelaars bereik het. Hierdie hoofstuk oor die Ooreenkoms sluit af met 'n evaluering daarvan en dui die potensiële voordele van die Ooreenkoms vir Suid- Afrika en die EU aan. Aangesien die Ooreenkoms internasionale reëls moes tevrede stel, was die voorskrifte van die Algemene Ooreenkoms oor Tariewe en Handel (GATT) van uiterste belang. Die EG-verdrag bevat egter geen voorskrif wat aandui óf, of hoé, 'n internasionale ooreenkoms soos GATTNVTO die regsorde van die Europese Gemeenskap binnedring nie. Die vraag oor in hoeverre die tweesydige ooreenkoms tussen Suid-Afrika en die EU deur die GATTIWTO voorskrifte beïnvloed is, en oor hoe hierdie reëls in die ooreenkoms opgeneem is, word dus in Hoofstuk vier aangeraak. Aangesien die partye ooreengekom het om 'n vrye handeisarea tot stand te bring, behandel hierdie hoofstuk ook die vraag oor in hoeverre die TOGA met Artikel XXIV GATT strook. Tesame met die GATT-voorskrifte word die TOGA ook deur die Ooreenkoms ten opsigte van Handelsverwante Aspekte van Intellektuele Eiendomsreg (TRIPs) geraak. Hoofstuk vyf behandel daarom hierdie aspek ten opsigte van die TOGA. Die gebruik van die terme "Port" en "Sjerrie" as die vernaamste struikelblok tot die sluiting van die TOG-ooreenkoms word ook deegliker ontleed. Die laaste gedeelte, naamlik Hoofstuk ses, bied 'n opsomming van die resultate van die ondersoek. Verder word 'n gevolgtrekking voorsien ten opsigte van vraag of die TOGA as 'n voorbeeld vir verdere handelsverwantskappe tussen die EU en ander lande in Afrika en die Karibiese en Stille Oseaan-eilande beskou kan word.

In the first paper, the effects of trade openness and conflict risk on income inequality are investigated. I obtain that the effect of trade openness on inequality depends on the level of conflict risk. More precisely, there exists a threshold effect: trade openness worsens income inequality in countries where the risk of internal and external conflicts is high. Moreover, I find that countries with higher risk of conflicts are more unequal, and that more ethnically diverse countries increase income inequality. Finally, I obtain that democratic regimes decrease inequality. In the second paper, we analyze the general-equilibrium consequences of property right enforcement in the natural resource sector. Assuming that exclusion requires both private and public enforcement efforts, we compare states that differ by their ability to provide protection services. This ability is referred to as state capacity. We obtain that public protection services can effectively act as either substitutes or complements to private enforcement, and this strongly depends on state capacity. Under low state capacity, an increase in state protection services leads to a drop in national income as labor is drawn away from the directly productive activities. The opposite holds for high-capacity states. As a result, public protection services have an ambiguous effect on national income even though they can unambiguously increase resource rents. In the third paper, we argue that the right to hold dual citizenship can generate important social and economic benefits beyond its political dimension. We assemble a large panel dataset on dual citizenship. We find that in developing countries, dual citizenship recognition increases remittance inflows by US$1.19 billion, GDP and household consumption, and improves child survival. In developed countries, however, dual citizenship recognition decreases remittance inflows by US$1.44 billion, but increases FDI by US$828 billion, raises household consumption, gross capital formation and trade, and provides incentives for skilled workers to move to other countries.

Diploma thesis concerns about legal regulations of real estate by new civil codex with reflection to the previous and international legal regulation.The aim of the thesis is to assess the functionality of new civil code and its benefits in the real estate investment transactions in Czech Republic. This analysis is supported with overview of transfrontier real estate acquisitions made by foreign investors in Czech Republic and additionally also real estate investments of Czech investors abroad. This thesis therefore tries to provide answers to multiple questions ranging from analysis of new civil codex regulation, its impacts, risks and functionality then secondly its similarities in comparison to foreign law regulation (of Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Italy and France). From the perspective of transfrontier real estate acquisitions this thesis concerns about law acknowledgement for foreigner parties in real estate transactions in Czech Republic and counterbalance of the similar rights on the side of Czech residents in reciprocal acquisition process. The analysis is supported by the debate of accuracy of either liberal or protectionist attitude to foreign real estate investors' regulation with a reflection to current international political, sociological and economical course of events.

La réalisation du marché intérieur européen par une meilleure intégration des marchés financiers est aujourd’hui devenue une réalité. L'objectif est toutefois loin d'être atteint en matière de crédit hypothécaire, nonobstant de nombreuses initiatives européennes. Compte tenu de ces difficultés et du postulat selon lequel il serait impossible d'harmoniser le droit des suretés immobilières en raison de leur ancrage culturel et national, une proposition alternative consistant dans la création d'une sûreté immobilière commune (euro-hypothèque), venant se superposer aux systèmes nationaux, a été formulée depuis un certain nombre d'années. La recherche analyse dans un premier temps la réalité du postulat précité à la lumière du droit comparé et conclut qu'en réalité, les différents systèmes trouvent non seulement leur origine dans un modèle identique, fondé sur le caractère accessoire de la sûreté, mais ont en outre connu une évolution similaire au cours de ces dernières années. Il apparaît que ce modèle constitue la meilleure base pour toute harmonisation européenne. Après avoir examiné l'interaction avec le droit international privé, sous l'angle de la protection du consommateur, et le droit européen, sous l'angle de la question de la compétence communautaire et du principe de subsidiarité, des pistes sont proposés pour opérer un rapprochement des législations nationales relatives au crédit hypothécaire. La proposition consiste à intégrer dans un seul instrument juridique contraignant (une directive européenne) les différentes propositions permettant d'opérer un rapprochement des législations nationales à trois niveaux :celui de la sûreté immobilière et de la publicité foncier, celui du contrat de prêt et enfin, celui relatif à la procédure de réalisation de l'immeuble.
Doctorat en droit
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Finance. 28th September 2015
National real estate markets are globally recognized as essential segments of an economy and major contributors to national aggregate outputs. However, Africa’s national real estate markets are largely underdeveloped mainly because capital is in short supply. In this study, we examine the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI), foreign portfolio investments (FPI) and remittances on Africa’s real estate markets. We also sought to establish the financial market channels of capital inflows that are especially important for the real estate markets. In 1980s and 1990s, the widespread influence of the Bretton Woods institutions’ policy prescriptions saw many African countries implement far-reaching financial liberalization reforms. These reforms were meant to address low domestic savings and investments by opening the capital accounts of nations as to enable inflow of foreign capital. In this study, we test the externalities of these inflows. Specifically, we examine the effects of foreign capital inflows on African real estate markets by estimating a structural investment model using a pooled feasible generalized least square and general method of moment estimators in a panel set-up. We use data from Botswana, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia and South Africa for this test. Second, we examine causality relationships between real estate investments and foreign capital inflows using vector autoregressive (VAR) models and the Bai-Perron threshold test. Third, using the optimal general method of moment estimators and interactive term approach, we model the most important channel for foreign capital inflows’ externalities on the real estate markets. The panel results show that FDI and remittance do not have favourable associations with residential and non-residential real estate investments during their initial period of inflow, but in later periods, they correlate positively and significantly with real estate investments. The relation between FPI and the real estate investments is inconclusive. The VAR test suggests that the effects of foreign capital inflows on both residential and non-residential real estate investments vary across countries and markets. In some cases, the effects are time-varying and size-dependent, but in the majority of the cases, the effects are contingent on the size of the inflows. In respect of the most important channel(s) reflective of effects of cross-border flows on real estate markets, the results appear largely country-dependent: the credit market channel appears to stand out in reflecting most favourable externalities from cross-border flows. Further, evidence on the direct channel effect also varied from country to country. The indirect channel of the equity market is only important in South Africa, especially, when remittances are funnelled via the equity market channel. Based on the forgoing, it appears clear that in order to fast-track growth in national real estate markets, we should recommend that African countries put policies in place to motivate direct foreign capital inflows, encourage channelling of foreign capital inflows, particularly remittances and FDIs through the financial markets, with emphasis on credit markets.
MT2016

Thesis (M.M. (Finance & Investment)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits Business School, 2017.
This study examines the relationship between major commodity exports and the real exchange rate of commodity exporting countries. We make use of monthly commodity price time series data to determine the causality relationship between exchange rates and the top three commodity exports from 5 commodity exporting countries (Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Norway and South Africa). Due to the phenomenon called “Dutch Disease” commodity exporting countries’ economies are found not to experience large economic success during periods of booming export commodity prices. Using data from the IMF IFS database, only one country out of the five included in this study shows evidence of conitegration relationship between commodity prices and exchange rates, although there is some evidence of commodity prices explaining the movement of exchange rates in all five countries. We find that commodity prices do play a role in the exchange rates movement in commodity exporting countries.
MT2017

by Liu Shiang Ling.
Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48).
ABSTRACT --- p.ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii
LIST OF TABLES --- p.v
CHAPTER
Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1
Chapter II. --- CHINA'S RENMINBI SYSTEM --- p.3
Overview and Historical Development --- p.3
1953-1972 --- p.3
1973-1978 --- p.4
1979-1993 --- p.4
1994-1996 --- p.6
The Exchange Rate Determination --- p.7
Demand & Supply --- p.7
The Balance of Payments --- p.8
Inflation --- p.10
Interest Rate --- p.10
The Condition of Economic Development --- p.11
Expectation --- p.11
The Fiscal Policy --- p.12
Forecasting Exchange Rate --- p.12
Fundamental Analysis --- p.14
Chapter III. --- CHINA'S PROPERTY MARKET --- p.15
The History of China's Property Market --- p.15
Pre-1949 --- p.15
1949-1979 --- p.15
1979-1991 --- p.16
1992-1996 --- p.18
China's Real Estate Market Overview --- p.20
Shanghai's Property Market --- p.21
Risk Analysis --- p.22
Return --- p.22
Risks --- p.23
Chapter IV. --- THEORETICAL ANALYSIS --- p.25
Currency Conversion and Exchange Rate Risks --- p.25
Hypothesis --- p.26
The Short Run --- p.26
The Long Run --- p.27
Chapter V. --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS --- p.29
Targets of Study --- p.29
Questionnaire --- p.29
Chapter VI. --- ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS --- p.30
Primary Source Data --- p.30
Secondary Source Data --- p.32
Analysis --- p.34
The Short Run --- p.34
The Long Run --- p.35
Political Conditions --- p.35
Economic Conditions --- p.36
Social Conditions --- p.37
Market Conditions --- p.37
Land Investment --- p.38
Conclusion --- p.39
Chapter VII. --- RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICE TO DEVELOPERS --- p.40
The Depreciation of Renminbi --- p.40
The Appreciation of Renminbi --- p.41
The Chinese Government Policy --- p.42
Long-Term Consideration --- p.43
APPENDIX --- p.45

This study examined the effect of real exchange rate misalignments on economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by employing 15 countries. The sample is subdivided into 7 lowincome countries and 8 middle-income countries. The dataset spans 41 years covering the period 1970-2010. The study examined this broad issue in piecewise fashion. In the first part, the study examined the validity of the Balassa-Samuelson Hypothesis (BSH) using a simplified regression model and within-effects estimations. The study found a negative and highly significant coefficient of the relative productivity term for the two subsamples (i.e. low-income SSA countries and middle-income SSA countries), in addition to the full sample. Thus, the study found a well-established BSH for the SSA countries considered. Second, the study examined the impact of the real exchange rate undervaluation on economic growth using a standard regression model with key control variables. The study constructed an index of undervaluation, following Rodrik (2008). The study also constructed a Hodrick- Prescott based undervaluation index in order to evaluate the robustness of the main undervaluation index. Generally, the study found undervaluation to promote growth and overvaluation to reduce it. The study found the effect of undervaluation on economic growth to weaken as countries migrate from the low-income bracket to the middle-income bracket. Moreover, the study examined whether the choice of the undervaluation measure mattered. The study found the choice of the undervaluation measure to matter. The Rodrik-type index appeared to overestimate the size of the impact of undervaluation on economic growth. Finally, the study examined whether the impact of undervaluation on growth was linear. The evidence showed that the impact of undervaluation on growth was linear, at least, for this study. The linear impact of real exchange rate movements on economic growth implied that undervaluation enhanced economic growth just as overvaluation hindered it.
Economics
D. Phil. (Economics)

Since the early 1970s, exchange rate fluctuations have characterised the behaviour of the external value of many currencies in both high- and low-income countries. Up-and-down movements in real exchange rates have been observed under fixed as we:ll as flexible arrangements. This is in spite of the fact that many less developing countries (until the 1980s), unlike the major industrialised countries, opted to retain relatively rigid exchange rate systems after the collapse of the Bretton Woods system. Exchange rate volatility has been a subject of much concern in government, business and academic circles because it has been associated with negative effects on the performance of developing economies. Consequences of these large swings in exchange rates have included uncertainty and delays in business decisions, resource misallocation, interest rate volatility and real exchange rate misalignments. For the period, froln1970 to 1996, this study investigates the phenomenon of real exchange rate disequilibrium in developing countries, with an empirical and econometric examination of South African data. Using the ordinary least squares and the EngleGranger cointegration techniques, this investigation found that government consumption of nontradables, the price of gold in rand, the overall terms of trade and the rate of depreciation are important determinants of the short-run behaviour ofthe real effective exchange rate in South Africa. With regard to the long-run the permanent componen1ts ofthe fundamentals - namely, technological or productivity improvement, trade policy, governm1ent consumption of nontradables, disposable income, capital flows, the terms of trade excluding gold and the rand price of gold -, were found to be significantly related to the equilibrium conduct of the real effective exchange rate. Instances of real exchange rate misalignment were found in both periods of fixed and flexible exchange rate management.
Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

This dissertation comprises three essays on macroeconomic impacts of foreign direct investment (FDI). The first essay analyses the impact of FDI on the growth rate of total factor productivity of host countries. The essay focuses on 77 low- and middle-income countries and is based on balanced panel data for the period 1980-2008. The system GMM and common correlated effects (CCE) panel data methods are applied to estimate the models. Estimated coefficients show that FDI does not have any significant impact on the growth rate and the levels of TFP. The second essay investigates the relationship between FDI and domestic investment focusing on low- and middle-income countries, and using panel data for the period 1980-2012. It applies common parameter and heterogeneous parameter, static and dynamic, single equation and simultaneous equation panel data econometric techniques to study the relationship. Empirical findings suggest that FDI crowds our domestic investment. Our estimated coefficients also suggest that countries that have weak institutions, less developed financial systems, less human capital, less developed infrastructure, or economies that are more open, are more exposed to foreign competition and experience stronger crowding out from inward FDI. In the third essay, the influence of capital flows on the real exchange rate of recipient countries is analysed. The influence of three important capital flows, viz. foreign direct investment (FDI), foreign aid, and remittances, are assessed on the real exchange rate, using data for 45 middle- and low-income countries for the period 1980–2013. Both heterogeneous and homogeneous panel data methods are applied to estimate the real exchange rate models. The estimated coefficients of these models imply that foreign direct investment (FDI) and remittances do not influence the real exchange rate. Aid tends to depreciate the real exchange rate. Findings also suggest that financial development does not influence the exchange rate impact of aid in our sample countries. The study further finds that while aid tends to increase real exchange rate volatility, FDI and remittances do not have any robust influence on volatility.
February 2017

This dissertation examines the strategic choices of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in host countries that become engaged in war. By combining the resource-based view and resource management theory, and drawing additional insights from research on real options and foreign strategic exit, I link the costs attributable to war to the strategic responses of the MNE at the subsidiary level in a novel firm-vulnerability framework. In particular, I develop theory regarding whether a subsidiary will exit from a host country, and if so, the timing (early or late) and mode (whole or partial) of exit. I test my hypotheses on a sample of 626 subsidiaries from 386 Japanese MNEs representing 51 industries in 23 countries at war, both interstate and civil, over the period 1988 to 2006. In analyzing the exit likelihood and timing decisions with time-varying covariates, I employ an extended Cox proportional hazard model, which allows for random-effects modeling of predictor variables at the subsidiary, parent MNE, and host country levels. To determine the exit mode of subsidiaries that choose exit over staying, I use binomial logit models. To correct for potential sample selection bias, I replicate my exit mode results with a Heckman probit model. My findings suggest that iv increasing strategic flexibility can counterbalance the potential disadvantages associated with leveraging strategically salient resources in high-risk locations. In examining war as a broad-based perturbation capable of destroying not only institutionalized values, but also the physical infrastructure and human capital of firms, this dissertation empirically demonstrates how political violence influences the strategies of MNEs. Furthermore, my interdisciplinary approach in integrating theoretical lenses from climate change and natural environment sustainability with existing management literatures to examine the effect of war on firms serves to enhance our understanding of individuals and collectives in extreme conditions.

This study investigates, identifies and provides flowchart summaries of the various forms of taxation in South Africa and to a lesser extent Greece affecting South African residents who own or have financed fixed property in Greece. These residents have to comply with the Income Tax and Estate Duty Acts in South Africa and the relevant taxation laws in Greece. An amnesty gave South Africans an opportunity to voluntarily declare their fixed properties and to regularise their foreign assets and tax affairs without the fear prosecution. The practical application of the various taxation provisions in both countries is extremely complex and often residents are not even aware that certain provisions apply to them. In addition there is the risk of paying nearly double the marginal rate of Income Tax and Estate Duty in South Africa and double taxation on donations. This study also provides suggestions and possible solutions to problems identified.
Taxation
M. Tech. (Taxation)

Subset Vector Autoregressive (SVAR) models are fitted to the International Listed Property Trust (LPT) market and the global oil market. A General-to-Specific (GetS) model selection algorithm and a Bootstrap model based resampling method are employed to determine the best fitting models from a set of candidate models. Section One presents one of the largest studies to date of the effect of crises on diversification opportunities in the listed property context, spanning 12 markets{u2091}. The analysis demonstrates an application of alternative superior modelling of market integration. Much early research on the diversification benefits of securitised real estate markets uses correlations and/or a simple mean variance framework. These static descriptive statistics, while informative, cannot adequately capture the dynamic behaviour present in the data or information on how the two variables are related on a lead/lag basis. Autocorrelation analysis can give some insight into temporal relationships between the response and the covariates now and into the past, but the more complex (SVAR) model allows us to capture the behaviour of the data series more flexibly and, in particular, model all markets of interest simultaneously. Such an approach captures not only internal dependence, but also complex dependence structures involving multiple markets. This study covers the Asian market crisis and the current global credit crisis. Critically this study includes modelling of the potential for currency effects to impact the diversification environment. Diversification benefits evaporate during the crisis in both hedged and unhedged cases, perhaps a surprising result given the magnitude of the currency effects experienced during the Asian crisis. Interestingly, although diversification benefits vanish during the crisis in both hedged and unhedged cases, the markets that are significant in the model differ between the two cases. While the analysis in Section One demonstrates that SVAR models can provide a superior insight into the diversification problem, model uncertainty was not addressed adequately. Financial market industry participants and researchers often fit statistical models to time series data without regard for the issues relating to purpose and model uncertainty. Often an inappropriate model is fitted, and even if an "appropriate" model is applied, the final model reported is treated as though there is no uncertainty with respect to size or significance of the coefficients, variables included or excluded. Section Two discusses model uncertainty. In Section Three, the question, "Can you trust your model?" is asked. By applying a resampling method called the bootstrap, model uncertainty is quantified. The global oil market is modelled using an implementation of Subset Vector Autoregression with Exogenous Variables (SVARX). When fitting large models such as those in Section One and Section Three, coefficient and standard error estimates have been traditionally determined by conditioning on a single best model. Estimates from a single model ignore model uncertainty and result in under-estimated standard errors and over-estimated coefficients. The results of this study find under-estimation of standard errors of up to164% and over-estimation of coefficients of up to 37%. The bootstrap provides improved estimation of coefficients and their standard errors, and allows better identification of the relative importance of predictors. Using the bootstrap, this study shows how traditional methods for selecting predictors result in false positives (inclusion of unimportant/noise variables) and exclusion of important variables. Using daily log return time series, this exploratory study suggests the following predictors as the most important drivers of the global oil market: US 10 Year Government Bond Yield (lags 0, 4 and 13) US Inflation Rate (lags 0 and 11) US Business Confidence (lags 8 and 11) Given the set of predictors above, confirmatory out-of-sample analysis where models of size two, three and four or more are fitted and analysed should be conducted. A multi-model averaging based approach should be implemented to account for model uncertainty if the models are to be used for predictive purposes. {u2091}Based on the work in Section One of this thesis, a journal article has been published. Ryan, L. (2011), Nowhere to hide: an analysis of investment opportunities in listed property markets during financial market crises, Journal of Property Research, Volume 28, Number 2, June 2011, pp. 97-131(35)

This thesis investigates the implications of implementing TRIPS in India for access to medicines drawing on three major factors: (i) the TRIPS agreement, (ii) the global pharmaceutical industry and (iii) the development of Indian pharmaceutical industry and the level of access to medicines in India. In doing so, the thesis examines the requirements of the TRIPS agreement and analyses the costs and benefits of its implementation, especially from a developing country view point. The fairness test shows that TRIPS prematurely forces developing countries to adopt protection standards, which a number of developed countries themselves did not adopt until they had achieved a certain level of economic development