Building Competitive Firms : Incentives and Capabilities

by Nabi, Ijaz; Luthria, Manjula

• ISBN13: 9780821351543
• ISBN10: 0821351540
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-09-01
• Publisher: World Bank

Summary

'Building Competitive Firms: Incentives and Capabilities' explains how firms become competitive in language suitable for both technical and non-technical readers. A simple analytical framework integrates elements such as competition policy, corporate governance, foreign direct investment, innovation readiness, intellectual property rights, e-commerce and supply chain management. These "behind-the-border" elements are pivotal to shaping the investment climate in any country and enhancing the benefits of trade liberalization. Each of these themes is discussed in detail with a focus on policy design and international best practice in implementation.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Part 1. A Framework for Competitiveness
Building Competitiveness: A Roadmap and Policy Guide	1	(28)
Ijaz Nabi
Manjula Luthria
Measuring Competitiveness	4	(7)
A Framework for Examining Competitiveness	11	(15)
Concluding Remarks	26	(1)
References	27	(2)
Foreign Direct Investment and Competitiveness	29	(30)
Sanjaya Lall
The Growing Importance of Foreign Direct Investment	29	(7)
Traditional and New Determinants of the Location of Foreign Direct Investment	36	(3)
Policy Needs for Foreign Direct Investment	39	(12)
Concluding Remarks	51	(4)
Appendix 2.1 Statistical Analysis of Strategies for High-Technology Competitiveness	55	(2)
Notes	57	(1)
References	58	(1)
Part 2. Aiming for Competitiveness: Incentives
Corporate Governance, Corporate Performance, and Investor Confidence in East Asia	59	(18)
Ijaz Nabi
Behdad Nowroozi
Structural Influences on Corporate Performance	60	(2)
Benchmarking Corporate Governance	62	(3)
Reform of Corporate Governance in East Asia and the Challenges Ahead	65	(6)
Concluding Remarks	71	(1)
Appendix 3.1 Summary Fact Sheet on Corporate Governance in Malaysia	72	(2)
References	74	(3)
Competition Policy, Economic Adjustment, and Competitiveness	77	(21)
R. S. Khemani
Structural and Governance Features of Developing and Transition Market Economies	78	(5)
How Competition Can Boost Corporate Governance	83	(2)
Designing and Implementing Effective Competition Law Policy	85	(8)
Concluding Remarks	93	(1)
Notes	94	(1)
References	95	(3)
Part 3. Achieving Competitiveness: Capabilities
Supporting Technology Generation and Diffusion at the Firm Level	98	(20)
Manjula Luthria
Why Countries Cannot Afford to Miss the Boat	98	(2)
What Firms Need to Improve Their Technological Capabilities---and Why They Can't ``Just Do It''	100	(1)
Building High-Quality Human Capital and Skills	101	(1)
Strengthening Technology Infrastructure and Links with Industry	102	(13)
Concluding Remarks	115	(1)
Note	115	(1)
References	116	(2)
Upgrading Work Force Skills to Create High-Performing Firms	118	(17)
Geeta Batra
Hong Tan
Framework for Analyzing Enterprise Training	118	(2)
Who Is Trained---and How, Why, and with What Effect?	120	(3)
Constraints on Training from the Employer's Perspective	123	(3)
Policy Prescriptions and Experience Promoting Training Markets	126	(6)
Training Programs for the Informal Sector	132	(1)
Concluding Remarks	132	(1)
References	133	(2)
Reaping Efficiency Gains through E-Commerce	135	(14)
Prasad Gopalan
Benefits of E-Commerce	135	(2)
Projected Demand for E-Commerce	137	(1)
The ePlanters Business Concept and Rationale: A Case Study on Investing in E-Commerce	138	(8)
Concluding Remarks	146	(2)
References	148	(1)
Value Creation through Supply Chain Management	149	(16)
Ronald Kopicki
Supply Chains and New Forms of Industrial Organization	149	(4)
Macro Effects of Supply Chain Development	153	(2)
Factors Affecting Supply Chain Development	155	(8)
References	163	(1)
Useful Websites	164	(1)
Protecting Intellectual Property: Why, How Much, How?	165	(17)
Manjula Luthria
Intellectual Property Rights 101, An Introduction	166	(3)
What Are the Claims---and Fears?	169	(3)
Five Ways to Swallow Bitter Medicine	172	(4)
Concluding Remarks	176	(2)
Notes	178	(2)
References	180	(2)
Author Biographies	182	(2)
Index	184