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Macroeconomic Effects of Capital Account Liberalization: The Case of Korea
The macroeconomic effects of capital account liberalization in Korea are examined. Simple data analysis suggests that capital account liberalization substantially changed the nature and composition of capital flows. Based on the..
Yunjong Wang Date 2002.02.05
Financial liberalization, Financial policyDownloadContentExecutive Summary
I. Introduction
II. Capital Account Liberalization and Capital Flows in Korea
1. Liberalization in the 1980s
2. Liberalization in the 1990s Prior to the Crisis
3. IMF Program and Further Liberalization
4. Components of Capital Account
III. Empirical Analysis
1. Vector Auto-Regression Model
2 The Nature of Capital Flows
3 Effect on Macroeconomic Variables
4 Boom-bust Cycles
5 Foreign Exchange Market Intervention and Sterilization Policy
IV. Conclusion
ReferencesSummaryThe macroeconomic effects of capital account liberalization in Korea are examined. Simple data analysis suggests that capital account liberalization substantially changed the nature and composition of capital flows. Based on the VAR model, we find the following stylized facts: First, after capital market liberalization, capital flows become less driven by current account imbalances and therefore become more autonomous. Second, capital account liberalization significantly changes the effects of capital flows on macroeconomic variables. Third, capital account liberalization is highly related to consumption and investment booms, and subsequent appreciation of nominal and real exchange rates, which leads to the current account worsening. (The rest is omitted.) -
Eurasian Economic Community and the Future of Regional Economic Integration in the CIS
Russia, Belarus and the three Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan laid the groundwork for a higher level of economic integration among the former Soviet Republics in June 2001 by declaring the officia..
Yoo Jung Ha Date 2001.12.30
Economic integration, Economic cooperationDownloadContentSummaryRussia, Belarus and the three Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan laid the groundwork for a higher level of economic integration among the former Soviet Republics in June 2001 by declaring the official launching of the Eurasian Economic Community (EEC). Presidents of the five member countries had already signed a new customs union treaty based on the now antiquated CIS Customs Union during summit talks in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, in October 2000. The purpose of this regional report is to review the economic background of the EEC and discuss the prospects for its enlargement as well as the possibility of a large-scale economic integration encompassing all CIS countries.
With the breakdown of the Soviet Union in 1991, the 12 newly independent states (NISs) developed the idea of forging a single economic space as many of them were confronted with severe economic difficulties that demanded immediate attention. This was based on the perception that their continued economic downfall was attributable to the weakening trade relations between the former Soviet republics. In the early 1990s the inter-regional supply linkage under the Soviet planned economy was abruptly dissolved and each NIS began to establish independent trade barriers, hampering what had been a system of virtual free transactions linking republics in the Soviet era. Policy makers began to assert the need for restoring intra-CIS free trade as a solution to economic recession. This was the motivation underlying the formation of the CIS Economic Union in 1993, the first futile attempt to bind the economies of former Soviet republics together.
These most recent efforts to realize economic integration in the CIS through the EEC have sprung from a growing awareness among the transition economies that it was time for them to be integrated into the international economy. Quickly recovering from the shock of economic crisis since 1998, the transition economies are no exception to the rush to ride the wave of globalization. As regional trading blocs have been successively created across continents since the 1990s, countries in the CIS were also pressed to draw appropriate responses to the upswing of regionalism in the international economy. Moreover, Central and Eastern European countries have been in negotiations to gain membership into the European Union (EU) and will enter into the single market en masse in the near future.
This report assesses the pattern of trade relations between the five countries participating in the EEC customs union focusing on changes in the direction of trade and commodity structure. Products traded in the EEC market can be grouped into four categories according to their place of origin as follows: products from Russia, from EEC countries excluding Russia (EEC-4 hereafter), from the seven CIS countries that have not joined the customs union (CIS-7, hereafter) and, lastly, external countries. The web of trade relations between these groups of products in the intra-EEC market is described as follows: first, EEC-4 countries tend to sell primary goods and maintain complementary relations with Russia. Second, Russia is in competition with CIS-7 for greater market shares in the entire EEC market, as Russia and CIS-7 have similar trade structures in terms of commodities. Third, products of external origin complement the commodity structure of trade within the EEC and consist of high value-added products and capital goods backed by the higher comparative advantage over domestic products.
However, trade relations are expected to undergo the following changes when the customs union, currently in the take-off stage, is fully implemented. First, imports to the EEC will begin shifting to consist largely of cheaper intra-EEC products instead of goods from the CIS-7, which are not EEC members. The high demand for Russian products in the EEC-4 will continue but prices will go down as trade barriers between the EEC-4 and Russia are gradually removed. Therefore, the position of the CIS-7 in the EEC market will weaken due to the effects of trade diversion from external to intra-regional trade. Second, trade reorientation toward western economies, on the other hand, will remain a dominant economic trend in the EEC market despite the gradually tightening ties within the customs union. The westward trade reorientation or diversification towards Western Europe has been compelling since CIS countries began to pursue trade liberalization. This trend is not likely to dissipate but will escalate even more for the time being if the customs union raises the income level of the participating economies and the income effect is translated into a rising demand for products made in non-member countries.
Despite the expectations of rising intra-regional trade under the customs union, it is not likely that the EEC countries will adopt discriminatory and protective measures. For one thing, there is little chance that the EEC will agree to apply extremely high common external tariffs (CETs) on products from non-member countries. Member countries, rather than confining external ties within the 5-country group, want to expand bilateral economic ties with a variety of countries in Asia and North America as well as Western Europe. Some countries' bids for WTO membership will also prevent them from showing protectionist tendencies, because greater trade liberalization is one of the WTO's accession conditions. Higher CETs are also against WTO rules. The WTO recommends that the customs union set its CETs below the average tariff rates that individual member countries had imposed before the enforcement of the customs union. Meanwhile, accession negotiations can possibly delay the acceptance of the common trade policy by the EEC members if countries fail to agree on a common approach for collective accession to the WTO and place greater priority on negotiations with the WTO than on talks for a common EEC trade policy.
Many CIS countries wish to be free from the umbrella of Russian influence and to establish more independent external relations, economically and politically. Still, Russia is indisputably an opinion-leading country in the CIS, though sometimes elusively. Since his inauguration, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed the growing importance of a partnership with the CIS countries within the entire foreign policy framework. Considering the nature of CIS politics, the configuration of the EEC will have the following implications for the future political and economic landscape of the CIS. One possible outcome is that the EEC will contribute to enabling individual members to develop robust economic ties with Russia and promote plurilateral and balanced cooperation among members alike, materializing equitable economic development. Then, the EEC will become large enough to act as the seed for a large-scale united market in the CIS, similar to the single market in the EU. Or, the EEC may fail to end the pattern of hub-and-spoke trade relations, which means intra-EEC trade will remain highly concentrated on exclusive bilateral exchanges between Russia and individual countries. Provided that the hub-and-spoke pattern continues under the EEC, further enlargement is less likely as CIS countries seem unwilling to tolerate Russia's predominance. Hence, the CIS will be broken down into several plurilateral trade agreements, which will not necessarily include Russia, but rather be oriented towards the pursuit of mutual interests between regional partners.
As many CIS countries register a faster-than-expected recovery from the economic crisis, external economic relations will see subsequent changes. Recognizing the optimistic economic forecast, South Korea must prepare by collecting updated information concerning the changing business climate in the CIS. As greater economic integration in the CIS is targeted at boosting the income level and expected to prompt a growing demand for non-CIS products, it is necessary to watch for new business opportunities with the CIS. -
China's Attitude toward Regional Economic Cooperation and the Possibility of Northeast Asian Economic Integration
China's Attitude toward Regional Economic Cooperation and the Possibility of Northeast Asian Economic Integration With the end of the Cold War, the world economy is pivoted on globalization and regional economic integration. ..
Suck-Kyo Ahn et al. Date 2001.12.30
Economic integration, Economic cooperationDownloadContentSummaryChina's Attitude toward Regional Economic Cooperation and the Possibility of Northeast Asian Economic Integration
With the end of the Cold War, the world economy is pivoted on globalization and regional economic integration. Accordingly, each nation is adopting regional economic integration as a key strategy in order to heighten regional cooperation in the global stages, by eliminating uncertainty and expanding the system of specialization within the region. However, as of now, the economic cooperation in Northeast Asia fails to reach the level of regional economic integration, and moreover, the nations in the region have yet to even agree upon a long term economic integration goal or the possibility of some form thereof. (The rest is omitted.) -
A Study on the Russian Development Strategy of Siberia and Far East in the 21th Century
The purpose of this paper is to first make a comprehensive analysis of the Russian development strategy of Siberia and the Far East in the 21st century and then deduce specific business opportunities and methods of cooperation on ..
Jong-Man Han et al. Date 2001.12.30
Economic developmentDownloadContentSummaryThe purpose of this paper is to first make a comprehensive analysis of the Russian development strategy of Siberia and the Far East in the 21st century and then deduce specific business opportunities and methods of cooperation on territorial development between Korea and Russia. (The rest is omitted.) -
European Union's Enlargement toward Central and Eastern Europe: Its Current Developments and Prospects up to the European Council Meeting in Laeken
European Union had been established by six founding countries in 1952. Before the collapse of the real-socialist system in 1989, EU had been enlarged into twelve member countries. In 1995 EU had experienced it's fourth enlargement..
Kyu-Young LEE Date 2001.12.30
Economic integrationDownloadContentSummaryEuropean Union had been established by six founding countries in 1952. Before the collapse of the real-socialist system in 1989, EU had been enlarged into twelve member countries. In 1995 EU had experienced it's fourth enlargement including Austria, Sweden, and Finland. Between 1994 and 1995 ten Central and Eastern European countries applied for the membership of EU.From its beginning EU did not have a concrete enlargement plan. Furthermore it did not anticipate the participation of Central and Eastern European countries, because it had been launched during the cold-war period, when the principle of 'inclusion' and 'exclusion' was very clear at the East-West bloc confrontation. However, after most of the western European countries joined the EU, the next enlargement of EU focused on Central and Eastern European countries. Their application for EU is also very important in the view of their system transition and national survival. (The rest is omitted.) -
Professional Sports and Competition Law -Evaluation on competition law implementation experience in the OECD countries and its implication-
□ Since the introduction of professional sports 20 years ago in Korea, professional sports-related competition issues continue to be raised with the increasing importance in the national economy and in the daily life. But there a..
Won Joon Kim Date 2001.12.30
DownloadContentSummary□ Since the introduction of professional sports 20 years ago in Korea, professional sports-related competition issues continue to be raised with the increasing importance in the national economy and in the daily life. But there are just one competition authority's decision and a few court cases on professional sports-related competition issues.
□ "Competition Issues related to Sports", hosted by the OECD Committee on Competition Law and Policy, held in October 1996, will contribute to the understanding of the international trends and core issues on competition law implementation.
(The rest is omitted.) -
Private Actions for Injunction or Damages under Antitrust Law
This paper is designed to deal with how to improve private actions under antitrust law for the purpose of strengthening antitrust enforcement in Korea. Although the Korean antitrust law was enacted over twenty years ago, it enforc..
Seung Wha CHAG Date 2001.12.30
DownloadContentSummaryThis paper is designed to deal with how to improve private actions under antitrust law for the purpose of strengthening antitrust enforcement in Korea. Although the Korean antitrust law was enacted over twenty years ago, it enforcement has not been so active yet. One of the reasons is that enforcement power has been solely within the hands of the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC). An observation of other countries' antitrust laws reveal that antitrust agency shares its enforcement power with private persons as well as the court. In case of Korea, however, private parties are not allowed to bring an antitrust action for injunctive relief before the court. In addition, private parties are allowed to bring an antitrust action for damages only after the KFTC completed antitrust investigation with the finalization of its administrative order. Under such legal constraints, antitrust law cannot be actively enforced to a sufficient degree. (The rest is omitted.) -
Comparison of Recent Tax Reforms in Germany and Korea
In this paper we are going to analyze German tax reform 2000 and as a result to draw some tax policy implication for Korean tax reform. (The rest is omitted.)
Yu-Chan Kim Date 2001.12.30
DownloadContentSummaryIn this paper we are going to analyze German tax reform 2000 and as a result to draw some tax policy implication for Korean tax reform. (The rest is omitted.) -
A Comparative Study on the Privatization of Electricity Industries in EU and Korea
Public sector reforms including privatization became a major economic policy of many developed and developing nations since the 1980's and it has gained further momentum with the need to transform a large number of State owned ent..
Myung Ho Park Date 2001.12.30
Industrial policyDownloadContentSummaryPublic sector reforms including privatization became a major economic policy of many developed and developing nations since the 1980's and it has gained further momentum with the need to transform a large number of State owned enterprises(SOEs) in former-socialist nations. Radical alteration of the balance between private and public provision of goods and services was necessitated by several politico-economic factors such as poor performance of SOEs and gross mismanagement of state assets, sizable deficits in both the internal and external balances of economies etc. The Korean SOE sector is no exception. After years of misuses of state assets, the government attempted various SOE reform programs including privatization. (The rest is omitted.) -
Change of Brazilian Industrial Structure in 1980-1990 and Its Implications for Korea
Structural Changes in Brazilian Industry in the 1980s and 1990s and Cooperation between Korean and BrazilTaek Dong YoonAll through the 1980s, the Brazilian economy suffered from a foreign debt crisis, high inflation, fiscal imbala..
Taek Dong Yoon Date 2001.12.30
Industrial policyDownloadContentSummaryStructural Changes in Brazilian Industry in the 1980s and 1990s and Cooperation between Korean and Brazil
Taek Dong Yoon
All through the 1980s, the Brazilian economy suffered from a foreign debt crisis, high inflation, fiscal imbalance, and dwindling investment expenditure. Another problem, no less important, were inept and inconsistent government policies.Increasing uncertainties triggered by these factors were responsible for the poor performance of Brazilian industries during the 1980s. However, from the early 1990s, the Brazilian manufacturing sector began to show remarkable growth and increases in productivity. (The rest is omitted.)