形構連結---北歐芬蘭與東亞台灣之全球經濟網絡
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2008/08-2009/07
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本研究的貢獻主要在於國際研究的跨界連結。透國研究芬蘭與台灣之間的全球經濟 網絡，包括探討「跨國公司之組織策略」、「外人直接投資」、「國際貿易地理」，以及調 查「全球生產網絡」的經濟地理，本研究旨在回答下列問題：北歐及東亞的外人直接投 資如何在這兩個區域互動及成果，以及這兩個區域有什麼國際貿易與生產的相關涉入模 式？ 聚焦於台灣及其所處的東亞新與國家的區域，這個區域愈來愈具經濟成長與國際跨 國公司發展潛力，僅管經歷1990 晚期的金融風暴，東亞仍是可見未來的世界經濟成長 中心。另一方面，北歐國家被認為（如世界經濟論壇）全球經濟最富有經濟競爭力的區 域，尤其芬蘭。北歐是全球最富有的經濟競爭力的地區，而東亞是廿一世紀初經濟發展 最快速的區域。兩個區域經濟連結的研究成了最有意義的課題。近五年來，全球經濟「連 結（making connections）」之研究，成了經濟地理研究最有活力的一環。北歐對東亞 新興國家的外銷逐年增加，並且包括了如機器及其相關設備等高附加價值的產品。但 是，當東亞新興地區的製造能力不斷地增強，其出口能力並非更具優勢於較早之前。而 是，北歐國家的公司現下藉由移轉治理模式來加入當地的生產活動。相對於過去控制外 資的規定，對許多東亞區域顯著地修正投資體制，創造了北歐企業家進一步直接投資的 動機。 所以，基於以上動機，本研究定錨於四個相關研究領域斷面做為研究架構。包括(1) 東道主國家的投資及貿易理論：公司的投資決策是依賴於東道主國政府對外人直接投資 與貿易的開放。(2) 策略管理與區位決策理論：從管理的觀點，公司相對適當的區位能 夠被解釋為公司的策略與公司的區位上的接合。(3) 東道主國的外人貿易理論：從東道 主國的角度來說（以台灣與芬蘭的案例），外人直接投資對貿易的流動具有影響力。(4) 全 球生產鏈理論：從全球化的地理發展的視角，與時俱進的相互連結全球經濟，概念化經 濟活動的組織涉及了全球尺度上更複雜的行動者的營運。 即將採用的方法論包含了深度訪談芬蘭及台灣兩地地理關聯的公司及東道主政府 的觀點（同時也包括地區支持性的制度系統）。在企業地理的研究解釋公司區位基於組 織策略作為最理想的相關區位。投資策略動機或許是藉由公司擴張市場及（或）降低成 的經營目標。產品標的或許在投資的東道主經濟、在於宗主國經濟、或者之於全球市場。 總之，投資決策具有引導東道主國的國際貿易，及透過這個方法，得以理解東道主國的 貿易地理及其全球生產網絡。
The study aims to contribute to the ongoing international research on the linkages between firm strategy, foreign direct investments (FDIs), the ensuing geography of international trade, and therefore to ascertain the economic geography of global production networks (GPNs) between Nordic countries and East Asia by answering the following research question: How have foreign direct investments by Nordic companies in East Asia contributed to their overall performance, and what have been the related implications to international trade and production patterns of the host countries? Focus on the East Asian NIEs (particularly on Taiwan) is worthwhile due to the increasing economic growth and potential of the region for internationalizing companies. After recovering from the financial crisis in the late 1990s, East Asia remains the growth centre of the world economy for the foreseeable future. On the other hand the Nordic countries are regarded (by such as World Economic Forum) as asserting the most competitive region (outstandingly Finland) around the globe. Nordic exports to NIEs have increased gradually, and comprise of value-added products, notably machines and equipment. However, as local manufacturing in NIEs has strengthened considerably, it is likely that the volume of exports will not increase in a same extent than earlier. Instead, Nordic firms can now join the local business by transferring their operations there. Moreover, the significant revisions in investment regimes in most countries that earlier had maintained restrictions on and control of FDI, create a further motive for Nordic enterprises. The study is positioned in the intersection of four related research fields, covering (1) Investment and trade policies of the host country: The investment decision of the firm is dependent on the host government investment policy that reflects the openness of the country in terms of FDI and foreign trade. (2) Strategic management and locational decision-making: From the management perspective, the firm』s relative optimal location can be explained by linking the location of the firm to the strategies of the firm. (3) Foreign trade of the host country: From the perspective of the host country (with specific Taiwan and Finland), inward FDI has specific impacts on trade flows. And, (4) Global Production Networks: From the perspective of geography of globalization, in increasingly interconnected global economy, conceptualizing the organization of economic activity involves the consideration of many actors operating in ever more complex environments. Methodology will be adopted with face-to-face in-depth interviews to both the firm and the host government (also local supported institutional systems) perspectives. Research in the geography of enterprise explains the location of the firm as a relative optimal location based on corporate strategy. The investment decision may be motivated by the firm』s aim to extend its market and/or low production costs. The products may be targeted either to the local market in the host economy, to the home economy, or to the global market. Altogether, investment decision has a direct impact on the development of foreign trade of the host country, and in this way, it is an explanatory factor in the geography of trade of the host country and their production networks.
The study aims to contribute to the ongoing international research on the linkages between firm strategy, foreign direct investments (FDIs), the ensuing geography of international trade, and therefore to ascertain the economic geography of global production networks (GPNs) between Nordic countries and East Asia by answering the following research question: How have foreign direct investments by Nordic companies in East Asia contributed to their overall performance, and what have been the related implications to international trade and production patterns of the host countries? Focus on the East Asian NIEs (particularly on Taiwan) is worthwhile due to the increasing economic growth and potential of the region for internationalizing companies. After recovering from the financial crisis in the late 1990s, East Asia remains the growth centre of the world economy for the foreseeable future. On the other hand the Nordic countries are regarded (by such as World Economic Forum) as asserting the most competitive region (outstandingly Finland) around the globe. Nordic exports to NIEs have increased gradually, and comprise of value-added products, notably machines and equipment. However, as local manufacturing in NIEs has strengthened considerably, it is likely that the volume of exports will not increase in a same extent than earlier. Instead, Nordic firms can now join the local business by transferring their operations there. Moreover, the significant revisions in investment regimes in most countries that earlier had maintained restrictions on and control of FDI, create a further motive for Nordic enterprises. The study is positioned in the intersection of four related research fields, covering (1) Investment and trade policies of the host country: The investment decision of the firm is dependent on the host government investment policy that reflects the openness of the country in terms of FDI and foreign trade. (2) Strategic management and locational decision-making: From the management perspective, the firm』s relative optimal location can be explained by linking the location of the firm to the strategies of the firm. (3) Foreign trade of the host country: From the perspective of the host country (with specific Taiwan and Finland), inward FDI has specific impacts on trade flows. And, (4) Global Production Networks: From the perspective of geography of globalization, in increasingly interconnected global economy, conceptualizing the organization of economic activity involves the consideration of many actors operating in ever more complex environments. Methodology will be adopted with face-to-face in-depth interviews to both the firm and the host government (also local supported institutional systems) perspectives. Research in the geography of enterprise explains the location of the firm as a relative optimal location based on corporate strategy. The investment decision may be motivated by the firm』s aim to extend its market and/or low production costs. The products may be targeted either to the local market in the host economy, to the home economy, or to the global market. Altogether, investment decision has a direct impact on the development of foreign trade of the host country, and in this way, it is an explanatory factor in the geography of trade of the host country and their production networks.