A collection of papers on the determinants and consequences of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the real and financial sectors of industrial countries. The text sheds new light on the determinants of FDI, in particular the role of governmental incentives. Another main topic is the role of FDI in the east European accession countries. It provides insights into the question of whether EU enlargement will have consequences for capital flows into those countries. Since the start of European monetary union, the discussion on cross-border mergers in the European banking industry has intensified. The final part of the book contains contributions to this debate.

This dissertation aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the taxation of investment derivatives and the relationship between the derivatives and the accrual and realization methods. Investment derivatives, such as convertible bonds, include an initial investment and a derivative (an option) to buy or sell or to participate in the value movements of some underlying property. The principal focus of this study is on three universal tax issues, namely valuation, timing and the taxation of unrealized gains. As a common principle, interest income and capital gains are treated more similarly in corporate taxation than in individual taxation. Moreover, the taxation of financial instruments is currently in a turn-around phase in several countries, not least because of the implementation of the IFRS rules in accounting and the related fair value principle. The obligation to use fair values in accounting apparently motivates tax legislators to strive to use the same principles in taxation as well. The comparative method plays a major role in this study by examining the tax legislations and the tax practices of different countries. An in-depth analysis of the similarities and differences of tax laws and practices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland and Sweden is provided. This is of particular interest as the underlying components, single and often specified financial derivatives, are basically identical. While this study does not deal with individual tax treaties or bilateral transactions, the OECD Model is scrutinized in order to highlight the underlying principles of the given recommendations, especially with respect to interest income and capital gains. Due to the increasing importance of IFRS rules in accounting, the study is not limited to tax law, but also looks at issues from the perspective of finance, accounting and economics.

This report constitutes one of the pillars of the Investment Compact’s work. It provides governments with an overview of each country's performance on investment policy reform and will support them in setting priorities and further improving the investment environment.

This book is an examination of the management of portfolios of high net worth individuals (HNWIs). Jean L.P. Brunel identifies the factors which demand a different approach from that of traditional portfolio management strategy. He suggests a new approach to wealth management, proposing practical steps which will take you beyond the role of portfolio manager to that of "wealth manager". Punctuated by examples and case histories from the author's extensive experience, the book examines each aspect of wealth management in detail, such as the importance of investor psychology; how to maximize tax efficiency including a tax-efficient portfolio construction model; the implications of multiple asset locations; capital market opportunities and forecasting; strategic asset allocation; the importance of manager selection; and the multimanager approach. This ground-breaking book should show you the route to a more effective wealth management strategy. By understanding the needs of the individual investor, maximizing the tax efficiencies and applying a fully integrated approach you can become a successful "wealth manager." -- Publisher description.

Analyzes the "hidden" welfare state created by such programmes as tax deductions for home mortgage interest and employer-provided retirement pensions, the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit. The text examines the distinctive characteristics of these policies, aiming to help the reader to understand the historical links between the hidden welfare state and US tax policy, accentuating the importance of Congress and political parties. It also focuses on the reasons why individuals, businesses and public officials support tax expenditures.

Much research has been devoted to the consequences of the completion of the European internal market in 1992. Existing estimates of the effects of market integration remain exploratory, however, and many important issues have yet to be adequately addressed. These are the issues concerning this book. Edited by L. Alan Winters and Anthony Venables, the volume examines such questions as the extent of gains to be expected from both 'internal' and 'external' economies of scale following integration, the implications of 1992 for the European Community's trade with its traditional EFTA partners, the potentially valuable new East European markets, and the rest of the world. There are also chapters considering the implications of the internal market for the design of appropriate technology and taxation policies, and a study of the role of Japanese foreign direct investment in European manufacturing.

Because the actions of multinational corporations have a clear and direct effect on the flow of capital throughout the world, how and why these firms behave the way they do is a major issue for national governments and their policymakers. With an unprecedented ability to adjust the scale, character, and location of their global operations, international corporations have become increasingly sensitive to the kind and degree of tax obligations imposed on them by both host and home countries. Tax rules affect the volume of foreign direct investment, corporate borrowing, transfer pricing, dividend and royalty payments, and research and development. National governments that tax the profits of international firms face important challenges in designing tax policies to attract them. This collection examines the global ramifications of tax policies, offering up-to-date, theoretically innovative, and empirically sound perspectives on a problem of immense significance to future economic growth around the globe.