Authors: Andrea Éltető, Tamás Peragovics, Magdolna Sass, Ágnes Szunomár

China’s European Bridgehead? The Chinese Economic Presence in Hungary, Budapest: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Budapest (2024)

Abstract

While the EU-China relationships are fraught with controversies, the Hungarian government has for many years been strengthening cooperation with the East Asian power. Several new investments have been realised or announced, large infrastructure projects are planned, in May 2024 the Chinese president visited Budapest and in July 2024, the Hungarian prime minister reciprocated the visit.
This paper unpacks the highly intertwined and interrelated political, economic, and environmental aspects and challenges of this friendship – as the leaders of the two countries often label it.

A Éltető, A., Peragovics, T., Sass, M., Szunomár Á.: China’s European Bridgehead? The Chinese Economic Presence in Hungary bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Authors: Ágnes Szunomár, Tamás Peragovics, Csaba Weiner

In: Politics in Central Europe, 20(2), 271-301.

Abstract

International business research is usually focused on various aspects of foreign direct investment (FDI) by non‑European emerging‑market multinational enterprises (EMNEs) without attention to non‑traditional factors pulling them into host countries. The objective of this paper is to examine the investments of EMNEs from two source countries, China and Russia, within the Visegrad Four (V4) economies. Based on interviews and a qualitative document analysis, it explores the main characteristics of their investments into the V4, including host‑country determinants by focusing on macroeconomic, institutional and political factors. The paper finds that these factors do influence EMNEs’ investment practices, and that they correlate with the changing quality of political relations, but this influence needs to be assessed on a case‑by‑case basis.

A Szunomár, Á., Peragovics, T., Weiner, Cs.: The role of institutional and political factors in attracting Chinese and Russian multinationals to the Visegrad countries bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Author: Ágnes Szunomár

In: Wu, Chien-Huei (ed.) Switching diplomatic recognition between Taiwan and China: economic and social impact, London, New York: Routledge (2024) pp. 179-195.

Introduction

The transition of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries from centrally planned to market economies in the late twentieth century transformed the region’s external economic relations. During this transition period, CEE countries went through radical economic restructuring, largely induced by foreign capital. Multinational enterprises (MNEs) realized significant investment projects and established their own production networks in the region. Investors, primarily from core European countries, were attracted by macroeconomic factors, including relatively low unit labor costs, market size, openness to trade, and proximity. Institutional factors, such as the prospects for CEE countries’ economic integration with the European Union (EU), also increased foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows.

A Szunomár, Á.: Economic versus political engagement with China and Taiwan in Central and Eastern Europe bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Authors: Dominika Szécsi, Ágnes Szunomár

In: Society and Economy, (published online ahead of print 2024).

Abstract

The topic of the research is whether better human capital, as determined by secondary school learning outcomes measured by PISA scores, promotes economic growth. The literature often uses the PISA results as a proxy for growth, while its use and impact on growth are not empirically proven. These questions are analyzed through two hypotheses. The first hypothesis (H1) states that in a worldwide sample of countries, GDP per capita growth between 2006 and 2019 was positively impacted by rising PISA results. The second hypothesis (H2) states that between 2006 and 2019, the rise in PISA scores in East Asia had a stronger influence on economic growth than in the rest of the world. The study examines 59 nations that have administered two PISA tests during the period of 2006–2019. The findings imply that there is generally no causal connection between PISA results and growth and the PISA results play no additional role in the development of East Asian nations. The results can be explained in two ways. The first is that human capital includes more than just skills. The second is that the data only covers a short period of time, which may limit the analysis of long-term patterns.

A Szécsi, D., Szunomár, Á.: PISA score as an inappropriate measure for growth? Empirical evidence from East Asia bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Authors: Niall Duggan, Ágnes Szunomár

In: Asian Perspective, 48(1), 1-11.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/apr.2024.a919879

Abstract

Research on the economic relations between the European Union (EU) and the People’s Republic of China (China) has long been dominated by a focus on the trade relationship between both actors (Algiero 2002; Gaenssmantel 2012; Men 2013; Smith 2014; Heron 2007; Zhang 2014). This literature highlights that the trade relationship between China and the EU is highly institutionalized at the EU level and is managed through a network of high-level economic and trade dialogue as well as sectoral dialogues, working groups, networks, and platforms (Ash 2007; van der Harst 2023). However, the relationship is also at a member state (MS) level, which has its own trade relationships with China and its own concepts of sovereignty, human rights, and environmental standards (Goulard 2020; Cui 2018). This creates what Smith (2014, 39) calls the hybrid nature of the EU economic diplomacy in terms of its relationship with China. This hybrid nature creates a situation where the EU Commission depends on MS consensus and vice versa regarding policy action toward China (Freeman 2022; Woolcock 2012; Voogsgeerd 2023). This is particularly true with trade and investment regulations as common commercial policy is a Commission-level competence. At the same time, MS plays a major role in promoting or preventing economic relations with China (Gottwald 2010; Reilly 2017; Farnell and Irwin Crookes 2016; Liu and Zhang 2020).

A Duggan, N., Szunomár, Á.: Chinese Investments and Involvement in Strategic Sectors and Infrastructure Development Across Europe: Europe’s Hybrid Relationship with China Beyond the BRI—Introduction to the Special Issue bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Author: Ágnes Szunomár

Citation: Ágnes Szunomár, From Zero to Hero? Chinese Investment in Electric Vehicle Supply Chains in the Visegrád Four. Prague, Czech Republic: Association for International Affairs (AMO), 2024

Abstract

China has not only gained a foothold in the electric vehicle industry but has become one of the most important players globally. Accordingly, it wants to penetrate global markets, including the European one, with its own EVs, and also be close to other EV manufacturers to supply them with EV components, including batteries, via its own companies.

This paper analyzes the recent trend of Chinese investments in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chains in the Visegrád Four (V4) countries of Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland.

A Szunomár, Á.: From Zero to Hero? Chinese Investment in Electric Vehicle Supply Chains in the Visegrád Four bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.