Published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and now in its eighth annual edition, the World Investment Report reviews the factors that determine foreign direct investment, discusses trends and issues that surround transnational corporations and explores the implications of the Asian financial crisis.
The first section of WIR98 looks at global trends, covering international production, FDI flows, mergers and acquisitions and inter‐firm technology agreements. Throughout the publication, the emphasis is on detailed description and discussion with the support of tables and graphs. Following on is a section on the largest transnational corporations, the world’s 100 largest listed and discussed in terms of degrees of transnationality and the largest TNCs from developing countries. Next is an investigation of investment policy issues, trends, national policies and double taxation treaties. The largest section of WIR98 follows, host country determinants of foreign direct investment, discussing the national FDI policy framework, business facilitation, economic determinants and the impact of international policy frameworks. The remainder of the report comprises sections on specific parts of the world, developed countries, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean and Central and Eastern Europe.
The pedigree of the report cannot be questioned; the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development serves as the focal point within the United Nations Secretariat for all matters related to foreign direct investment and transnational corporations. The 428 pages of the report are packed with information and analysis and as previously mentioned this is supported by the inclusion of excellent tables and graphs. Well presented between soft covers in A4 size, at $49.00 it is a recommended buy for reference and business libraries.
