The strength of domestic production networks: an economic application of the Finn cycling index

There has been an increasing interest in analyzing the structure of domestic and global supply chains/networks in the past decade. Concerns about potential (systemic) risks resulting from overdependence on global supply networks have been magnified during the lockdowns triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic in the last year. Strengthening local and/or domestic networks may be an adequate approach to overcome the severe economic implications of this overdependence, but it also rises the question of how one can measure the strength of domestic supply/production networks and design an appropriate structure. The objective of this paper is to propose a method for measurement and to provide a first-cut analysis with this method on a sample of economies. Building on ecological network analysis, we borrow the Finn cycling index from its toolbox and show a ranking of countries with respect to the strength of their domestic production networks based on this index. The results suggest that the countries are very heterogeneous both in terms of the level of cycling index and its sectoral decomposition. Using panel-econometric techniques, we point out the role of the openness and structural asymmetry in shaping this strength, also controlling for other macroeconomic characteristics of the economies. The estimates reveal that openness has a negative, while asymmetry has a positive effect on this index, but other country-specific characteristics also play a role in shaping the systemic operation of national economies as measured by the Finn cycling index.

Sectoral Decomposition of Korea’s Energy Consumption by Global Value Chain Dimensions

This paper analyzed the annual trends in energy consumption of 14 industries in Korea from 2000 to 2014 using an extended log mean Divisia index (LMDI) method that embedded global value chain (GVC) divisions in the standard LMDI decomposition. Using a world input–output table, we calculated foreign value-added share in the GVC activities for each industry. Based on a Cobb–Douglas production technology, we embedded GVC divisions in the ordinary LMDI factor decomposition. The key findings indicate that the production effect mainly drives energy consumption, while energy consumption has decreased by both the foreign-structure effects and the foreign-intensity effects. Together with a decline in the domestic energy intensity effects, both of the GVC effects have improved energy efficiency. Energy-intensive industries have consumed more energy than other industries, while they have more incentive to save energy costs because these costs are a large proportion of total import costs. The opposite pattern occurred in other industry groups. Industries that do not naturally depend on energy tend to consume more energy and became more energy-intensive.

An analysis of EU FDI inflow into Russia

This paper analyzes the trends and drivers of inward foreign direct investment in Russia between 2009 and 2019. The EU is the premier provider of FDI into Russia, even though we find that reported values overstate its role given the use of Special Purpose Entities (SPEs). Key drivers of Russian FDI flows are the price of oil and natural resource markets, macroeconomic volatility, monetary policy, sanctions and trade impediments. As FDI is highly concentrated in natural resource rich regions, we argue that a sectoral decomposition understates the importance of fossil fuel extraction. Based on this analysis as well as the literature on growth effects of FDI, we argue that Russia needs more investment into higher-value added activities.

Foreign Direct Investment in Real Estate and Related Business Services:Poland vs OECD Countries​

Poland has experienced a relatively large inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the last two decades. FDI has been flowing mainly into services and manufacturing similarly to the trend observed in global capital movement. Within the services, the financial intermediation played the biggest role in terms of attracting FDI, but real estate and related business activities (legal, accounting, auditing, tax, marketing, etc.) also saw a high inflow of foreign capital. The paper analyzes the evolution of inward FDI stock in Poland over the period 1998–2012 with a particular emphasis on real estate and related business activities. It also discusses how Poland differs in terms of sectoral decomposition in the services of inward FDI stock from other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries representing both Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and advanced economies. Finally, the paper answers the question how Poland is performing relative to other OECD members in terms of FDI attractiveness.