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1 – 10 of over 6000Explores the operations of US and Japanese electronics manufacturers in South‐East Asia from two perspectives. Uses views from a small number of company headquarters in North…
Abstract
Explores the operations of US and Japanese electronics manufacturers in South‐East Asia from two perspectives. Uses views from a small number of company headquarters in North America and Japan to build two general strategies for commodity electronics manufacturing in the South‐East Asia region. The result of the US strategy would be to retain core technologies at the home base, while the stated Japanese strategy is to transfer technologies rapidly to offshore sites. Tests these disparate strategies against operational realities in a large study of the manufacturing technology level and R&D capability of electronics manufacturing sites in South‐East Asia. Site observations suggest that there is much commonality between the operational configurations and approaches.
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To illuminate a new field of legal study – offshore financial law, especially the offshore trust and how it impacts on financial crime.
Abstract
Purpose
To illuminate a new field of legal study – offshore financial law, especially the offshore trust and how it impacts on financial crime.
Design/methodology/approach
Analytical approach to case law and legislation relevant to the topic.
Findings
Offshore financial law and offshore trusts are innovative, dynamic vehicles for trust and tax planning internationally but have to address avenues for financial crime.
Originality/value
Original and pioneering research into a new area of law. Practitioners in finance law, trusts and tax, academics, legal regulators, accountants and other finance practitioners will find it particularly helpful.
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Yu-Cheng Lai and Santanu Sarkar
The purpose of this paper is to understand the impending relationship between the impact of the US–China trade war on Taiwanese firms' spending on R&D and their offshore…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the impending relationship between the impact of the US–China trade war on Taiwanese firms' spending on R&D and their offshore investment in technologically advanced countries (TAC), the authors examined if changes in these firms' R&D ratios and the growing presence of skilled workers in Taiwan's labour market during the trade war have affected their offshore investments in TAC.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a model built on pooled cross-sectional time-series data from 2012–2019, the authors examined whether a change in R&D ratios of domestic firms in Taiwan and the growing presence of skilled workers in Taiwan's labour market have affected the offshore investment by these firms during the trade war. Using data from the Manpower Utilisation Survey, the authors applied differences–in–differences–in–differences and differences–in–differences–in–differences–in–differences estimation methods and found that the trade war indeed gave a boost to Taiwan's job market, particularly for skilled workers.
Findings
From the estimation results, the authors noticed a rise in employment opportunities alongside a decline in the earnings of skilled workers in industries where more firms have spent on R&D as well as invested in offshore operations. However, firms in Taiwan that had not heavily spent on R&D from industries where investment in foreign operations was otherwise high have also attracted skilled workers during the trade war.
Practical implications
An in-depth analysis of the impact of the trade war on domestic firms' spending on R&D and their investment in offshore operations in TAC should be helpful to policymakers interested in understanding the effects of the trade war and subsequent changes in firms' spending on R&D on labour market outcomes. If changes in the R&D ratios and a steady supply of skilled workers influenced the outflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to TAC, this insight could be helpful for those devising policies and measures to curb the impact of the trade war on domestic spending on R&D.
Originality/value
The study findings not only provide broad lessons to policymakers in Taiwan, but the country case study can guide growing economies that are equally careful while perceiving trade war as a significant deterrent to domestic R&D spending and the outflow of FDI.
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Olivia Muszynski and Mine E. Cinar
Commercial property market allows for the potential development of a similar real estate investment trust (REIT) structure in China as the commercial REITs (C-REIT) such as those…
Abstract
Purpose
Commercial property market allows for the potential development of a similar real estate investment trust (REIT) structure in China as the commercial REITs (C-REIT) such as those offshore in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors examine tax codes of the present real estate investment methods in China in order to understand the interest for a new vehicle that specifically focuses on commercial real estate.
Findings
Given the progress of offshore C-REITS and Chinese government's emphasis on real estate, Chinese shareholders will benefit if onshore C-REITS are issued. Crucial to the success of C-REITS will be how the C-REIT shares will be priced with respect to Net Asset Value of underlying assets.
Research limitations/implications
COVID-19 pandemic has changed government priorities, and development of C-REITS in real estate for growth may no longer be a priority policy for China.
Practical implications
Liquidity in real estate markets will be enhanced by C-REITS due to participation of private investors.
Social implications
Onshore C-REITS would allow small and individual investors to have a stake in their home country's commercial real estate as an investment security for their own future.
Originality/value
This policy article also includes an interview with real estate professional in China whose opinions are embedded and added to the article.
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The study is intended to identify the macroeconomic factors that drive the use of companies registered in tax havens to purchase properties in the UK housing market.
Abstract
Purpose
The study is intended to identify the macroeconomic factors that drive the use of companies registered in tax havens to purchase properties in the UK housing market.
Design/methodology/approach
Adopts an empirical study that uses Cointegration and Vector Autoregressive models to identify the influence or the motivations of using tax havens regime and its relationship with investment volume by analysing impulse responses of innovations to external and domestic factors.
Findings
The model uses monthly data for the period 1996–2019. This provides sufficient evidence that offshore buyers are particularly motivated by exchange values and the quality of governance in host economies.
Research limitations/implications
There is much to be revealed from the spatial distribution of this phenomena and the welfare effect at the micro-level.
Originality/value
To the best of my knowledge there is limited to no empirical study that primarily focus on the use of tax haven as an offshore investment tool in the UK housing market. The study also uses new dataset, Overseas Companies Ownership Dataset in the UK to understand housing ownership patterns by companies that are registered abroad dubbed, offshore buyers.
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The global financial turmoil of 2008 spilled over into the British Isles offshore jurisdictions of Guernsey and the Isle of Man resulting in the collapse of two local subsidiaries…
Abstract
Purpose
The global financial turmoil of 2008 spilled over into the British Isles offshore jurisdictions of Guernsey and the Isle of Man resulting in the collapse of two local subsidiaries of major Icelandic banking groups and consequent depositors' losses. The purpose of this paper is to contrast the sharply differing reactions of the insular authorities and critically evaluate Guernsey's recently enacted deposit protection scheme.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper outlines the nature of the Guernsey jurisdiction, its offshore development and policy issues in deposit protection. Legislation establishing Guernsey's deposit protection scheme is described and critically evaluated.
Findings
Guernsey's scheme is a rushed legislative reaction dominated by finance centre reputational concerns. The legislation is clear and comprehensive but the long‐term robustness of its funding model is unclear.
Originality/value
The analysis contained in this paper highlights the ramifications of international bank instability in small offshore jurisdictions and the regulatory problems this poses. Discussion of the legislative basis of the deposit protection scheme clarifies its nature and limitations as an investor protection technique, which is timely given the status of deposit protection as a key theme in the UK Government's initiated Foot Review of nine offshore jurisdictions.
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Ireland has become one of the main sources of finance for Russian based firms. The purpose of this paper is to quantify and analyse these flows to examine governance and…
Abstract
Purpose
Ireland has become one of the main sources of finance for Russian based firms. The purpose of this paper is to quantify and analyse these flows to examine governance and regulatory issues, in particular the possible effect of sanctions.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on detailed searches of publicly available filings in Company House, Ireland to identify Russian connected conduits. Data was extracted from available accounts and prospectuses for 106 conduits operating in Ireland for some or all of the period 2005-2017.
Findings
The paper shows gross flows from Irish based conduits to Russian firms amounted to €118bn for 2005-2017; flows may be partly explained by round tripping; sanctions have also affected flows; flows are facilitated by close linkages with professional networks both within Ireland, and other offshore financial centres, especially London; The conduits examined have no employees and are mostly owned by a charitable trust or trust. They have become a major part of a largely unregulated shadow banking system.
Originality/value
This paper used searches of publicly available company filings to create a unique database of individual firms. Data on the use of financial centres by individual firms is hard to obtain and the results of this study may be indicative of the use and nature of conduits in other financial centres which form part of the shadow banking sector.
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This paper aims to identify the underlying key components of illicit financial flows (IFFs) and highlights the priority areas where government resources should be pooled under a…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify the underlying key components of illicit financial flows (IFFs) and highlights the priority areas where government resources should be pooled under a whole of government approach to mitigate the risks posed by IFFs. These areas are tax avoidance and tax evasion (specifically intra-company profit shifting, investment and profit shifting within the extractive sector, fraud and beneficial ownership), anti-corruption measures, governance and accountability measures, anti-money laundering effectiveness and effectiveness in the detection of falsified customs declarations.
Design/methodology/approach
The concept of IFFs is emerging as an umbrella term for bringing together seemingly disconnected issues. The concept is ill-defined, but there are various identifiable components supporting the term IFF such as capital flight, corruption, money laundering, tax avoidance, tax havens and transfer pricing practices. The author identifies the key areas of concern through a literature review and recommends prioritization of short- to medium-term risk areas and long-term policy imperatives.
Findings
In the short- to medium-term, an effective “whole-of-government” approach should be based on uniform risk identification and prioritization between mandated government agencies and in the long run, it should be focused on building responsive and effective institutions through a process of good governance and effective taxation.
Originality/value
A large body of literature deals with “IFFs” and the “whole-of-government approach” as separate concepts. This paper draws on the existing literature and identifies priority areas for addressing IFFs, and, for these to be successful, they are entirely dependent on a whole-of-government approach – both in the short and long run.
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The purpose of this paper is to assess the role of hedge fund administrators, particularly in relation to valuing complex and/or illiquid financial instruments.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the role of hedge fund administrators, particularly in relation to valuing complex and/or illiquid financial instruments.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper proceeds by way of an analysis of key trends and developments within the hedge fund administration industry in relation to the regulatory challenges posed by complex and/or illiquid instruments.
Findings
The paper argues that, because of inherent problems over the attribution of value to complex and/or illiquid assets, emphasis on independent valuation by administrators is largely misplaced. Recent events concerning valuation difficulties in the subprime mortgage market illustrate these very concerns.
Originality/value
The paper questions the ability of independent hedge fund administrators to provide reliable valuations for complex and/or illiquid instruments. Independent valuation of such assets suggests a level of scrutiny that is in fact not present. Moreover, the financial market meltdown surrounding the collapse of the subprime mortgage market provides a timely and salutary reminder that independent valuations of complex and/or illiquid instruments are inherently unreliable.
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