title: The effects of foreign direct investment on domestic firms: The case of Vietnam

authors: Ha, Van Thi Cam

subjects: Foreign direct investment

abstract: Thanks to the economic reform after the launch of “Doi moi” in 1986, Vietnam has made significant gains and has transformed from an economically poor country in the 1980-90s towards a middle-income country by the 2010s. A dynamic market deeply integrated into the global economy has helped pave the way for foreign investment inflows to Vietnam. While it is clear that foreign direct investment plays a crucial role in the economy as a whole, the debate continues on whether foreign direct investment has positive or negative effects on domestic firms. In developing countries, foreign investment can be supportive to local enterprises where the former provides technological advantages that are beneficial. However, there are examples of where foreign presence negatively impacts on the development of local firms if they do not have adequate resources to absorb spillovers. This thesis examines whether the presence of foreign direct investment contributes to the development of Vietnamese firms from different angles including productivity, export activity, R&D and innovation and investment during the 2010-15 period. The thesis comprises four papers.
The first paper examines the impacts of foreign presence on domestic enterprise productivity within and between industries through horizontal and vertical channels. Panel data models are employed to investigate the linkage between foreign investment and local firm total factor productivity. The results indicate the presence of positive spillovers from foreign investment in downstream sectors to domestic firm productivity in upstream sectors through backward linkages, while a negative impact is found in the same sectors through horizontal linkages.
In the second paper, Heckman selection estimation is employed to investigate whether foreign investment has any influence on the exporting activity of domestic firms. The results suggest that while foreign investment in downstream sectors is found to encourage the export decision of local firms in the same and upstream sectors through horizontal and backward linkages, the export intensity of local firms only benefits from backward linkages. The linkages between exporting activity of local firms and the presence of foreign investment appears to be different when comparing low- and high-tech firms. 
While it is argued that foreign investment in a host country can encourage domestic firms to invest in R&D and innovation, there are few studies that consider the case of Vietnam. The third paper of the thesis fills this gap. The results suggest that there is a weak positive association between foreign investment and local firms R&D activity and innovation through forward linkages, while there is no significant evidence to support the view that multinational enterprises help improve local firms R&D behaviour through horizontal and backward linkages. 
The final paper in this thesis investigates the possibility of crowding-effects from foreign investment to local investment. System General Method of Moments estimation is employed to a sector-level balanced panel dataset to account for dynamic effects.  The results indicate that foreign investment significantly encourages domestic investment, and export-oriented sectors appear to be more sensitive to the impact from multinational investment.

text: The effects of foreign direct investment on domestic firms: The case of Vietnam Thanks to the economic reform after the launch of “Doi moi” in 1986, Vietnam has made significant gains and has transformed from an economically poor country in the 1980-90s towards a middle-income country by the 2010s. A dynamic market deeply integrated into the global economy has helped pave the way for foreign investment inflows to Vietnam. While it is clear that foreign direct investment plays a crucial role in the economy as a whole, the debate continues on whether foreign direct investment has positive or negative effects on domestic firms. In developing countries, foreign investment can be supportive to local enterprises where the former provides technological advantages that are beneficial. However, there are examples of where foreign presence negatively impacts on the development of local firms if they do not have adequate resources to absorb spillovers. This thesis examines whether the presence of foreign direct investment contributes to the development of Vietnamese firms from different angles including productivity, export activity, R&D and innovation and investment during the 2010-15 period. The thesis comprises four papers.
The first paper examines the impacts of foreign presence on domestic enterprise productivity within and between industries through horizontal and vertical channels. Panel data models are employed to investigate the linkage between foreign investment and local firm total factor productivity. The results indicate the presence of positive spillovers from foreign investment in downstream sectors to domestic firm productivity in upstream sectors through backward linkages, while a negative impact is found in the same sectors through horizontal linkages.
In the second paper, Heckman selection estimation is employed to investigate whether foreign investment has any influence on the exporting activity of domestic firms. The results suggest that while foreign investment in downstream sectors is found to encourage the export decision of local firms in the same and upstream sectors through horizontal and backward linkages, the export intensity of local firms only benefits from backward linkages. The linkages between exporting activity of local firms and the presence of foreign investment appears to be different when comparing low- and high-tech firms. 
While it is argued that foreign investment in a host country can encourage domestic firms to invest in R&D and innovation, there are few studies that consider the case of Vietnam. The third paper of the thesis fills this gap. The results suggest that there is a weak positive association between foreign investment and local firms R&D activity and innovation through forward linkages, while there is no significant evidence to support the view that multinational enterprises help improve local firms R&D behaviour through horizontal and backward linkages. 
The final paper in this thesis investigates the possibility of crowding-effects from foreign investment to local investment. System General Method of Moments estimation is employed to a sector-level balanced panel dataset to account for dynamic effects.  The results indicate that foreign investment significantly encourages domestic investment, and export-oriented sectors appear to be more sensitive to the impact from multinational investment.

year: 2021

title: History of vertical displacement of Kerepehi Fault at Kopouatai bog, Hauraki Lowlands, New Zealand, since c. 10 700 years ago

authors: de Lange, P.J.

subjects: Faults

abstract: Thirteen tephra layers interbedded with peat, and a basal peathorizon, in four pairs of cores provide radiocarbon-dated reference horizons that indicate vertical displacement on the Kerepehi Fault at Kopouatai bog, Hauraki Lowlands. Progressive offset of the horizons with time shows that vertical fault movement, downthrown to the west, has been occurring for the past c. 10 700 radiocarbon years at an approximately uniform rate of c. 0.13 mm/yr. Step functions indicate faulting events earthquakes at c. 1400, c. 5600, c. 6800, and C. 9000 years ago, a mean recurrence interval of c. 2500 years. These findings support geophysical and geological evidence that the Hauraki Depression is an active rift, and show that active faulting occurs along the northern as well as southern extensions of the Kerepehi Fault. 
If such earthquakes occur randomly in time, and based on the return period of 2500 years, there are 2%, 18%, and 33% probabilities of a major earthquake affecting the Kerepehi Fault at Kopouatai bog in the next 50, 500, and 1000 years, respectively.

text: History of vertical displacement of Kerepehi Fault at Kopouatai bog, Hauraki Lowlands, New Zealand, since c. 10 700 years ago Thirteen tephra layers interbedded with peat, and a basal peathorizon, in four pairs of cores provide radiocarbon-dated reference horizons that indicate vertical displacement on the Kerepehi Fault at Kopouatai bog, Hauraki Lowlands. Progressive offset of the horizons with time shows that vertical fault movement, downthrown to the west, has been occurring for the past c. 10 700 radiocarbon years at an approximately uniform rate of c. 0.13 mm/yr. Step functions indicate faulting events earthquakes at c. 1400, c. 5600, c. 6800, and C. 9000 years ago, a mean recurrence interval of c. 2500 years. These findings support geophysical and geological evidence that the Hauraki Depression is an active rift, and show that active faulting occurs along the northern as well as southern extensions of the Kerepehi Fault. 
If such earthquakes occur randomly in time, and based on the return period of 2500 years, there are 2%, 18%, and 33% probabilities of a major earthquake affecting the Kerepehi Fault at Kopouatai bog in the next 50, 500, and 1000 years, respectively.

year: 1990

title: Mā te hangarau te oranga o te reo Māori e tautoko ai? Can technology support the long-term health of the Māori language?

authors: Mato, Paora James

subjects: Te reo Māori

abstract: Can contemporary technologies be used to support the ongoing health of an endangered language? Since the late twentieth century unprecedented and substantial social changes have been propelled by advances in contemporary technologies. Continuous connectivity harnessing digital communication, mass media and social networking has enabled instant diffusions of ideas, viewpoints and values. Unrestrained broadcasting and publishing by the general populace and the absence of the traditional media gatekeepers has been linked to the weakening of traditional cultural and linguistic ties as the private, more intimate oral domains inherent to minority indigenous cultures are being opened up to more public modes of consumption. Additionally, significant numbers of minority language speakers switch from the use of their own languages in digital environments to a language that is globally more recognisable. This type of digital language switching emulates the historical occurrence of language shift as minority language speakers opt to use a language that they perceive to be of more benefit to themselves and to their children.

Ironically, language revitalisation initiatives are embracing the ubiquitous attributes of digital technology. A joint venture between the Microsoft Corporation and the University of Waikato resulted in Māori-language interfaces for Microsoft Office and Windows. These and similar interfaces for a range of other applications were investigated. The testing groups were largely unaware the translated interfaces existed and expressed pleasure and pride to see te reo Māori within the various technologies. Following engagement the feedback was less positive. New words, unfamiliar uses of words and poor translations were cited as significant difficulties. Ensuing navigation was often hesitant and uncertain. Were the translations unsuitable? Is te reo Māori unusable within these technologies? The high incidence of task completion suggests difficulties may have arisen from a previous competence with the technologies in another language - English in this case. Future initiatives would do well to consider that perceived difficulties might arise from factors other than the design of the interfaces themselves.

 
Te reo Māori is being used on Twitter. Particular events significantly impacted the use of tweeting in te reo. During Māori Language Week the number of tweeters increased. During the Matatini Festival the volume of tweets increased. While creating an online Māori-language community, a range of strategies became necessary to maintain and prolong some conversations. At times, bilingual tweets extended faltering conversations. Sometimes forwarding tweets drew success. Furthermore, a significant number of people preferred to watch without engaging directly – perhaps a target area for future strategies.

Te reo Māori is a viable option within various technologies as evidenced by the increasing use of the language on a range of contemporary platforms. Translated interfaces provide opportunities for language promotion and extensive language visibility. The development of an online language forum has shown that conversations in te reo Māori can be successfully fostered using social media. Understanding the differences between the static visibility of translated interfaces and the dynamic nature of online conversations can be a huge asset for language strategies once issues of awareness, perception and extended engagement are successfully addressed.

text: Mā te hangarau te oranga o te reo Māori e tautoko ai? Can technology support the long-term health of the Māori language? Can contemporary technologies be used to support the ongoing health of an endangered language? Since the late twentieth century unprecedented and substantial social changes have been propelled by advances in contemporary technologies. Continuous connectivity harnessing digital communication, mass media and social networking has enabled instant diffusions of ideas, viewpoints and values. Unrestrained broadcasting and publishing by the general populace and the absence of the traditional media gatekeepers has been linked to the weakening of traditional cultural and linguistic ties as the private, more intimate oral domains inherent to minority indigenous cultures are being opened up to more public modes of consumption. Additionally, significant numbers of minority language speakers switch from the use of their own languages in digital environments to a language that is globally more recognisable. This type of digital language switching emulates the historical occurrence of language shift as minority language speakers opt to use a language that they perceive to be of more benefit to themselves and to their children.

Ironically, language revitalisation initiatives are embracing the ubiquitous attributes of digital technology. A joint venture between the Microsoft Corporation and the University of Waikato resulted in Māori-language interfaces for Microsoft Office and Windows. These and similar interfaces for a range of other applications were investigated. The testing groups were largely unaware the translated interfaces existed and expressed pleasure and pride to see te reo Māori within the various technologies. Following engagement the feedback was less positive. New words, unfamiliar uses of words and poor translations were cited as significant difficulties. Ensuing navigation was often hesitant and uncertain. Were the translations unsuitable? Is te reo Māori unusable within these technologies? The high incidence of task completion suggests difficulties may have arisen from a previous competence with the technologies in another language - English in this case. Future initiatives would do well to consider that perceived difficulties might arise from factors other than the design of the interfaces themselves.

 
Te reo Māori is being used on Twitter. Particular events significantly impacted the use of tweeting in te reo. During Māori Language Week the number of tweeters increased. During the Matatini Festival the volume of tweets increased. While creating an online Māori-language community, a range of strategies became necessary to maintain and prolong some conversations. At times, bilingual tweets extended faltering conversations. Sometimes forwarding tweets drew success. Furthermore, a significant number of people preferred to watch without engaging directly – perhaps a target area for future strategies.

Te reo Māori is a viable option within various technologies as evidenced by the increasing use of the language on a range of contemporary platforms. Translated interfaces provide opportunities for language promotion and extensive language visibility. The development of an online language forum has shown that conversations in te reo Māori can be successfully fostered using social media. Understanding the differences between the static visibility of translated interfaces and the dynamic nature of online conversations can be a huge asset for language strategies once issues of awareness, perception and extended engagement are successfully addressed.

year: 2018