China in the dynamic Asia‐Pacific region

The Chinese economy has experienced spectacular growth in recent years. Despite its huge trade and investment potential, China today remains an insignificant player in the world economy. But the emerging Chinese economy has already profoundly changed the pattern of trade and investment flows in the Asia‐Pacific region. Over the years, the Chinese economy has been steadily integrated with its neighbouring economies of Japan, the NIEs and ASEAN, which are all well known for their dynamic growth. The growing integration of the Chinese economy, with its huge economic potential, into the Asia‐Pacific region will enhance the region's prospects for further growth. Most Asia‐Pacific economies take a positive view of China's increasing economic involvement in the region as a new source of economic opportunity. It is in such a regional rather than the global context that the immediate effects of China's recent economic upsurge should be gauged.     

Singapore Inc. Goes Shopping Abroad: Profits and Pitfalls

Efficient state-led, market-driven intervention has been the hallmark of Singapore's success story but the exportability of state credibility, systemic efficiencies and local advantages into alien contexts is a matter of academic and political controversy. This article scrutinises Singapore's experience with outward investment in order to objectively examine the role of Temasek and of the government-linked corporations (GLCs). It uses the case of Temasek's investment in Thailand to reflect upon the economic and political impacts of the GLCs' global quest. It shows that resistance to Singaporean acquisitions reflects a combination of factors, including a general turn towards “economic nationalism,” attempts by other governments to replicate the city-state's state-led modernisation, and Temasek's and GLCs' underestimation of the risks that are germane to their international strategy.     

Four Viewpoints of Whole Area Public Partnerships

Total Place was a policy initiative introduced in the final year of the UK New Labour government to pilot whole area public partnership working. Whilst the title ‘Total Place’ did not survive the change of government in 2010, the underpinning desire to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in public spending will remain central to government policy, particularly in a time of economic retrenchment. This paper argues that the success or failure of such policy interventions substantially depends on the way they are understood by local actors. It explores how Total Place was viewed in one of the pilot areas. Utilising Q methodology, four main viewpoints emerge with striking patterns of shared, ambiguous and divergent discourses, particularly about partnership working, financial management and citizen empowerment. The paper concludes that for the successful implementation of a complex policy initiative such as Total Place, it will be as important to surface and discuss issues where people disagree, as to reinforce views which are commonly held and understood.     

The determinants of foreign direct investment inflows in the Central and Eastern European Countries: The importance of institutions

This study investigates the determinants of FDI inflows in six Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) by incorporating the traditional factors and institutional variables over the 1996–2009 period. The study identifies whether and how these determinant factors differ across four investor countries (EU-15, the US, China, and Japan). The results verify the positive and economically significant role of GDP size, trade openness, EU membership, and institutions (measured by economic freedoms, state fragility, political rights, and civil liberties indices) on FDI inflows. The results also reveal the existence of notable differences in the determinant factors across four investor countries.     

我国国际多式联运业外资准入若干法律问题研究

国际多式联运是将两种以上不同的运输方式加以整合,其目的是实现高效的“门到门”货物运输,便利国际货物贸易的开展.国际多式联运业的外资准入法律问题与GATS体制下海运业的外资准入问题密切相关,但因其牵涉到向外资开放东道国的整个国内运输市场,因而相比海运业更为敏感和复杂.就我国而言,国际多式联运业外资准入的法律问题主要包括GATS体制下国际多式联运业的归类问题、国内法中国际多式联运外资准入的“多轨制”问题、外商独资企业的经营资格问题以及国际多式联运业外资并购的国家安全审查问题等.     

对侵犯知识产权犯罪案件中“违法所得”的确认

＂违法所得＂是知识产权刑法及司法解释中的常见词语,但理论、实践界对＂违法所得＂的理解不尽相同,有的将其与＂销售金额＂联系起来,有的认为是扣除一定成本的利润;就是利润本身也存在不同的解释,如销售利润、净利润等。法律上的不确定给侦查办案增添了难度,因此,在法律层面必须明确＂违法所得＂的真正内涵,在不同案件中的具体核算方法。公安机关办理相关案件,取得＂违法所得＂证据的过程中,要重点注意现场处置;有价值会计资料信息提取;针对性的讯问及从交易双方获取＂违法所得＂记录等等。     

气候变化背景下国际投资规则的发展趋势及我国对策研究

传统国际投资条约与应对气候变化存在一些矛盾和冲突,因此应实现国际投资条约与气候变化应对条约之间的衔接,兼顾投资自由化与政府管制.要实现这一目标,最佳方式是通过改变国际投资条约以顺应应对气候变化的低碳运动,改变国际投资条约将促进和保护投资作为唯一重心的现状,并采纳环境保护等其他领域的国际法规则.近年来国际投资领域呈现可持续发展的投资政策趋势.目前一些投资保护协定范本和新签订的双边和区域性投资协定已经纳入并不断完善环境保护等有关东道国管制外资内容的条款,逐步实现投资者利益与东道国利益保护的平衡.我国对现有国际投资条约进行调整、修订以及新投资条约的谈判,应考虑国际投资条约的这一发展趋势,以顺应国际投资的可持续发展政策.     

廉租房REITs的困境与脱困

目前,我国廉租房建设正面临着巨大的资金缺口,但房地产投资信托（REITs）具有良好的吸收民间闲置资金、推动廉租房建设的功能.本文认为,设立廉租房REITs需要立足我国国情,借鉴美国和香港特区的法律制度从两方面进行建构.宏观立法方面,应提高立法位阶,统一立法;部门法方面,应尽快解决廉租房REITs在设立、税收、监管等方面的法律障碍.     

关于合同诈骗罪的数额标准评析

合同诈骗罪从普通诈骗罪中分离,其目的在于对利用合同实施诈骗的犯罪行为从重打击,其原因在于一般诈骗罪所侵犯的是公私财产所有权,而合同诈骗罪不仅侵犯了公司财产所有权,更侵犯了市场经济秩序和合同管理制度。然而,在两罪法定刑量刑幅度基本一致的情况下,司法解释和司法解释授权地方制定的合同诈骗罪"数额较大"、"数额巨大"的标准均高于一般诈骗罪的数额标准,导致司法实践中出现同一个合同诈骗行为依合同诈骗罪条款无罪或罪轻,依诈骗罪条款有罪或罪重的悖论。     

地方招商引资财政扶持政策的几点思考

财政扶持政策是当前地方在招商引资过程中比较常见的形式。地方政府对招商引资的企业进行财政支持虽然为企业提供了资金便利,也为其创造了良好的投资环境,但其带来的财政收支虚增等问题和危害也不容忽视。应对之策,是树立正确的政绩观,改进干部考核机制;完善监督机制,加强督查力度;转变政府职能,明确政府定位;明确招商责任,加强跟踪落实;改善投资环境,提高人员素质等。