The objective of this thesis is to define how strong is the influence of investment and macroeconomic climate of Arab exporters on how countries of Gulf Cooperation Council treat their income from the export of hydrocarbons. I would like to answer the question whether they invest their funds in domestic economies or in markets in other part of the world. I will try to point out the weaknesses of the investment environment and opportunities for remedies, which would lead to the strengthening of internal and external balance and to increase in the competitiveness of the GCC countries in the global economy.

The diploma thesis deals with the flows of foreign direct investment and the investment climate of South Africa which is introduced in its context as one of the most significant African economies and the leader of this region who not only receives foreign investment, but also implements many projects by himself. The result of this paper is besides the description of the inflows and outflows of foreign direct investment mainly the comprehensive evaluation of the investment climate through the analysis of strengths and weaknesses of the South African economy. Mentioned are the risks related to possible investment and also opportunities that are supported by the government through a variety of incentives and programs for the development of specific sectors of the economy. The information gathered in this diploma thesis can help foreign companies as a basis for their decisions on implementation of foreign direct investment to South Africa or surrounding regions.

This work is devoted to the definition of the system of investment incentives in the Russian Federation. The aim of this work is objective description and analysis of the existing system of investment incentives at the federal and regional levels. The effectiveness of investment incentives is assessed from the perspective of the investment climate in the Russian Federation. The introductory part is devoted to the definition of the investment climate in Russia in terms of current economic development and foreign investments. The final section assesses the effect of the incentive system in terms of its influence on the development of regional GDP and investment flows with the example of Lipeck region.

Thesis (PhD (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation is made up of stand-alone essays on the determinants of the investment climate in emerging market economies. Chapter One presents the purpose of this study, the significance of the research to policy makers, researchers and investors and the limitations of the research. Chapter Two investigates empirically whether business regulations, as measured by the „Doing Business‟ indicators, have an impact on investment in 29 emerging market economies in Africa, Asia, Latin America and emerging Europe. The results show that secure property rights and the level of business entry regulation influence the investment climate in these economies. In addition, efficiency of the judicial system, investor protection and the flexibility of employment regulation were found to be insignificant determinants of investment. Chapter Three explores the effect of business regulation on stock market liquidity, using data from a selection of 15 stock markets in Africa. The results from the panel data analysis show that the degree of business regulation does not influence stock liquidity. However, the results confirm that greater protection of minority share-holders' rights, as well as lender and better collateral and bankruptcy laws enhance stock market liquidity. There was anecdotal evidence to suggest that improved judicial efficiency enhances stock market liquidity. The legal origin was found to be significant in explaining the differences in the legal systems of these countries. Countries that have adopted French legal traditions were found to have less active stock markets and less investor and property rights protection compared to countries that have adopted English legal traditions. Chapter Four investigates the effect of the level of business regulation, infrastructure and political environment on investment in 29 African countries. The results provide evidence to show that lower levels of business regulation, less corruption and a stable political environment are important in enhancing investment. The final essay examines the effect of business regulation and geography on investment in a sample of 37 countries in Africa. The results show that more secure property rights and fewer import and export regulations have a significantly positive effect on private investment. In addition, being landlocked and distant from the sea has a negative effect on investment. Furthermore, the findings revealed that property rights protection in landlocked economies is not significantly different from that in coastal economies. In all the studies, the legal origin was found to be significant in explaining cross-country differences in the legal systems of the selected countries. These findings have important implications for policy makers, multi-lateral organisations and investors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif bestaan uit alleenstaande studies oor die beslissende faktore van die beleggingsklimaat in opkomende markekonomieë. In hoofstuk een word die doel van die studie; die belang van die navorsing vir beleidmakers, navorsers en beleggers; en die beperkings van die navorsing aangebied. Hoofstuk twee bevat ‟n empiriese ondersoek om te bepaal of sakeregulasies, soos deur die “Doing Business”-aanwysers gemeet, ‟n uitwerking op belegging in 29 ontluikende markekonomieë in Afrika, Asië, Latyns-Amerika en ontluikende Europa het. Die resultate toon dat veilige eiendomsregte en die vlak van regulasie vir toetrede tot besigheid die beleggingsklimaat in hierdie ekonomieë beïnvloed. Hierbenewens is die doeltreffendheid van die regstelsel, die beskerming van beleggers en die buigsaamheid van indiensnemingsregulasies gevind onbelangrike beslissende faktore vir belegging te wees. In hoofstuk drie word verslag gelewer oor die uitwerking van sakeregulasies op die likiditeit van effektemarkte op grond van data van ‟n keur van 15 effektemarkte in Afrika. Die resultate van die paneeldata-analise toon dat die graad van sakeregulasie nie die likiditeit van effekte beïnvloed nie. Die resultate het egter bevestig dat meer beskerming van die regte van minderheidsaandeelhouers asook verbeterde wetgewing ten opsigte van kredietverskaffing, aanvullende sekuriteit en insolvensie die likiditeit van effektemarkte verhoog. Anekdotiese bewyse is gevind wat aan die hand doen dat verbeterde regsdoeltreffendheid ook die likiditeit van effektemarkte verhoog. Die regsoorsprong is as beduidend gevind ter verklaring van die verskille in die regstelsels van hierdie lande. Lande wat Franse regstradisies aanvaar het, is gevind minder aktiewe effektemarkte en minder beskerming van beleggers en eiendomsregte te hê, vergeleke met lande wat Engelse regstradisies aanvaar het. In hoofstuk vier word die uitwerking van die vlak van sakeregulasie, infrastruktuur en die politieke omgewing op belegging in 29 Afrika-lande bespreek. Die resultate toon bewyse dat laer vlakke van sakeregulasie, minder korrupsie en ‟n stabiele politieke omgewing belangrike faktore is om belegging te bevorder. Die laaste studie ondersoek die uitwerking van sakeregulasies en geografie op belegging in ‟n monster van 37 Afrika-lande. Die resultate toon dat veiliger eiendomsregte en minder invoer- en uitvoerregulasies ‟n beduidende positiewe uitwerking op privaat belegging het. Hierbenewens is daar ‟n negatiewe uitwerking op belegging in lande wat deur land omring is en ver van die see af is. Die bevindings het ook aan die lig gebring dat die beskerming van eiendomsregte in ekonomieë wat deur land omring is, nie aanmerklik verskil van dié in kusekonomieë nie. In al die studies is regsoorsprong as beduidend gevind in die verklaring van verskille in die regstelsels van die gekose lande. Hierdie bevindings het belangrike implikasies vir beleidmakers, multilaterale organisasies en beleggers.

Magister Legum - LLM

The goal of this thesis is to provide comprehensive set of information about Chinese investment abroad policy and its approach to Eastern Europe. Introduction and first chapters describe China as a developing country which is trying to diversify its large foreign reserves, and actively to penetrate into foreign markets. Then thesis focuses on Chinese regional investment experience. Natural resources and commodities are prime targets for China in Africa. Meanwhile, Western Europe is perceived as an opportunity to gain knowhow and management experience as well as access to developed markets. Last chapters are devoted to the investment partnership between China and CEE countries and are focused on CEE attractiveness for Chinese corporations. China invests in high tech, telecommunication, automotive, machinery, food and construction industries in Eastern Europe.

The aim of this thesis is to characterize the current export strategy of the Czech Republic and analyze whether Morocco has potential for Czech entrepreneurs and companies. The first part of the thesis describes theories of international trade. The second part is dedicated to explain the term trade policy and to describe the development of export policy of the Czech Republic. In the third part there are fundamental information about the Kingdom of Morocco as well as analysis of investment climate. The key part of the thesis analyzes business opportunities for Czech companies and entrepreneurs.

This thesis deals with the evaluation of Russia, Ukraine, India and China in terms of prospects of their markets for Czech exporters. Evaluation of these states is performed using PEST and SWOT analysis, characteristics of foreign trade of individual countries, with a focus on trade and economic relations with the Czech Republic (mainly on the analysis of the contractual base, import requirements and existing trade barriers, commodity trade structure and trends in exports and imports focusing on the development of Czech exports). The paper also outlines export opportunities for Czech exporters, perspective fields for export, formulates general recommendations for Czech exporters and financing of export activities. The aim of this work is the formulation of potential recommendations for Czech exporters for the analysis of the target market.

Структура магистерской диссертации включает в себя введение, три главы, заключение, список использованных источников и приложения. Во введении обоснована актуальность темы исследования, поставлена цель и определены задачи, выделен объект и предмет, обозначена научная новизна, представлена методологическая и информационная база, а также раскрыта практическая значимость. В первой главе анализируются работы ряда отечественных и зарубежных экономистов. Изучены проблемы экспорта и импорта ПИИ. Рассмотрены современные методы стимулирования и регулирования поступления прямых иностранных инвестиций в экономику страны. Во второй главе проводится практический анализ факторов привлекательности ПИИ, оцениваются конкурентные преимущества привлечения инвестиций в развитые и развивающиеся страны, проводится анализ показателей, влияющих на приток ПИИ. Третья глава включает такие аспекты, выявление проблем привлечения прямых иностранных инвестиций на примере стран США и Бразилии, предложены пути совершенствования инвестиционного климата, а также рассмотрены возможности применения международного опыта привлечения ПИИ для России. В заключении сформированы основные выводы. / The structure of the master's thesis includes an introduction, three chapters, a conclusion, a list of sources used and appendices. In the introduction, the relevance of the research topic is justified, the goal is set and the tasks are defined, the object and subject are highlighted, the scientific novelty is indicated, the methodological and information base is presented, and the practical significance is disclosed. The first chapter analyzes the work of a number of domestic and foreign economists. The problems of export and import of FDI have been studied. Modern methods of stimulating and regulating the flow of foreign direct investment into the country's economy are considered. The second chapter provides a practical analysis of the factors of the attractiveness of FDI, assesses the competitive advantages of attracting investment to developed and developing countries, analyzes the indicators that affect the inflow of FDI. The third chapter includes such aspects as the identification of problems of attracting foreign direct investment on the example of the USA and Brazil, the ways to improve the investment climate are proposed, and the possibilities of applying international experience in attracting FDI for Russia are considered. In conclusion, the main conclusions are formed.

The main objective of the diploma thesis is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current investment climate in the United Kingdom and France, and to draw their comparison. It includes an analysis of significant political, economic, social, technological and legal factors, as well as assessment of available investment incentives. The thesis also contains an evaluation of FDI inflows to both countries. The thesis is consequently aimed at determining mutual competitive advantages of the United Kingdom and France.