• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2016

Purpose - Considering industrialization development stages, an economic effect of ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA) on foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into the ASEAN countries was analyzed. Research design, data, and methodology - utilizing macro-level panel data from 2001 to 2012, panel regression analysis was conducted with a model constructed based on the knowledge-capital model. Results - As for overall ASEAN countries, ASEAN FTA was positively effective to attract vertical FDI to this region, while horizontal FDI was dominant before ASEAN FTA. Meanwhile, for the diversified economy relevant to Singapore, ASEAN FTA was not effective to attract FDI. For the ongoing industrialization economy relevant to Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, ASEAN FTA was negatively effective to attract FDI; ASEAN FTA became a strong incentive to replace foreign investments with trade transactions for the horizontal firms, but an influence of market potentials after ASEAN FTA, which induces to third-country effects such as export platform FDI, has increased. For the incipient industrialization economy relevant to Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, ASEAN FTA was positively effective to attract vertical FDI. Conclusions - The effectiveness of FTA on FDI inflows varied considerably by the industrialization development stages of host countries.

• East Asian Economic Review
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.417-444
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• 2013

This paper aims to empirically identify the effects of FTAs on outward and inward FDIs in Korea. Considering the income differences between Korea and its FTA partners, we hypothesize that FTAs have a positive effect on outward FDI to developing countries and inward FDI from developed countries. An underlying source of the hypothesis is the Knowledge-Capital model, addressing the positive (negative) relationship between trade costs and horizontal (vertical) FDI. We test for the hypothesis using data on Korea's FTAs and FDI over the period 2000-2010. We find that our empirical results support the hypothesis, and additionally, FTAs in general encourage FDI by creating an FDI-friendly environment.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.37-52
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• 2022

Purpose - The objective of this study is to investigate what motivates global FDI inflows in the different economic development level and to clarify the FDI motivation type in the level of qualitative economic growth. Design/methodology/approach - Major macroscopic social·economic factors induced FDI inflows were analyzed using fixed-effect panel regression with 30-year panel data of 28 countries from 1985 to 2014. For analysis in the stage of economic growth, two category of developed and developing countries was used. And to analyze FDI motivation type in the level of qualitative economic growth, 4 shares of GDP; consumption·government·investment expenditure and export, was used as explanatory variable. Findings - In developed country, TFP(total factor productivity) and GDP have a great influence on FDI inflows, and consumption and labor compensation have a slight effect. This result indicates that the market seeking-driven, horizontal type investment is shown along with efficiency seeking investment. In developing country, human capital and TFP is shown to have greater impact on FDI inflows and labor compensation, exports, investment and government expenditures also have impacts. Thus it has confirmed that not only efficiency-seeking vertical investment for using low cost well educated laborer, but also government-driven economic growth and export policies could affect the FDI inflows. Research implications or Originality - The FDI investment decision making of multinational companies is decided by their own purpose. But, in the concept of as follows; 1) FDI is a long-term capital flowing for maximization of economic utility with limited global resource, 2) Thus FDI could be affected by macro socio·economic factors of host country. 3) Also such macro factors is different by each economic growth qualitative level. Therefore macro socio·economic factors of each country could be affected by the qualitative level of their own economic growth. To attract FDI inflows, it is desirable to implement differentiated incentive policies in the qualitative level of economic growth. Furthermore in developing countries it is recommended to implement government driven economic growth policies as follows; fostering well educated human resources, improving technology productivity in the relative lower cost labor market compared to developed countries and boosting international export volume.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.47-67
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to determine factors of FDI inflows which positively influence economic development. While MNCs ultimately decide on which country to engage in FDI, it can be affected by the general investment environment of host countries. Thus, it may be closely linked to national macro socio-economic factors. In the fixed-effect panel regression analysis using 30 years of data of 13 developed countries and 15 developing countries, results indicate that labor redemption exerts the greatest influence on global FDI inflows; this implies that FDI decisions are based on locations featuring higher productivity by the reduction of labor costs. According to the level of economic development, the motive of FDI inflows differs. In developed countries, GDP, government expenditure and consumer expenditure exert the greatest influence on FDI inflows; which shows characteristics of market seeking and horizontal investment. However, in developing countries, labor redemption and human capital exert the greatest influence on FDI inflows; which shows characteristics of efficiency seeking and vertical investment.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-78
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• 2018

Foreign subsidiary operation modes can be broadly divided into horizontal subsidiaries and vertical subsidiaries. According to institutional theory, foreign subsidiary operation mode differs depending on the host country institution. This study examines the effects of formal and informal institution on the foreign subsidiary operational mode of Korean firms. As a result of the empirical analysis, the higher the cultural distance and the lower political risks, the more favored the vertical foreign operation mode than the horizontal foreign operation mode. On the other hand, the higher the economic freedom and the lower corruption, the more favored the horizontal foreign operation mode than the vertical foreign operation mode.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-19
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• 2019

Purpose - This research examines the effect of a foreign subsidiary on the productivity growth of a Two-way trading manufacturing firm in Korea. We explore firms engaged in both trade and FDI simultaneously to verify whether participation in GVC as a broad concept is an efficient internationalization strategy to increase the productivity of a Korean manufacturing firm. Design/methodology - Based on the firm-level data by utilizing the Survey of Business Activities from Statistics Korea, we examine the impact of vertically integrated foreign subsidiaries on the productivity of a manufacturing firm that exports and imports simultaneously. Findings - The results show that if a Two-way trading firm establishes one or more overseas subsidiaries, the total factor productivity growth increases. Moreover, the FDI effect is statistically significant when the destination country has an economically close relationship with Korea. However, these effects are disparate depending on the industrial competitiveness or market situation where the subsidiary is located. Nonetheless, the synergy effect resulting from industrial combination is represented in China and the USA only. Originality/value - As the importance of GVC has become more emphasized around the world. In spite of the scarcity of related domestic studies, we explored the effect of multinational manufacturing firms participating in GVC using firm-level data.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.355-364
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• 2021

The main objective of this study is to examine the interactive effect of technology spillover channels on business efficiency within the case study of manufacturing industry of Vietnam during the period from 2012 to 2018. The research model was developed with business efficiency as dependent variable and the relevant factors affecting the technology spillover capacity as independent variables. With a sample of 2,776 cross-sectional enterprises, panel data analysis approach was adopted to estimate the impact of technology spillover issue. Different spillover channels were also included in the analysis to enhance the empirical result. The study reveals that technology spillovers positively influence manufacturing business efficiency, in which horizontal spillover channel produces negative impact and vertical spillover channel, creates positive impact. Several factors that negatively affect the technology spillover capacity of businesses could be mentioned such as limited skills and experiences of workers, methods of implementing R&D, and the existence of FDI enterprises. Meanwhile, the rise of other factors related to joint-venture activities can help to increase the technology spillover capacity of businesses. In addition, skill and experience transfer makes a partial impact since this variable only positively affect the vertical spillover channel and provide no evidence of impact regarding horizontal spillover channel model.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.97-116
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• 2017

This study aims to analyze Vietnam' international commerce policy which is affected Korean's customs policy and fta policy, oda policy to develop diverse commercial cooperation between Korea and Vietnam. commercial cooperation between the two nations accomplished various co-development in vertical specialization of international commerce. Vietnam has exerted intense efforts to ameliorate its commercial environment for becoming WTO member and attracting FDI as next China. Vietnam has become WTO member and Vietnam's system and law relating to international commmerce has been changed for global standard. Vietnam hope to become international commerce leader in ASEAN. so Korea should take diverse efficient measures to assist Vietnam's continuous industrial development and advanced system in international commerce. the two nations should more mutually assist in mega international commerce round negotiation to intensify the two nation's international commerce policy in the international commerce system.