09_Bibu + Brancu_RO_EN

							                                                                                             Studii şi cercetări

                                                                                                          - 75 -




    ROLUL INFRASTRUCTURII ÎN ATRAGEREA
    FIRMELOR MULTINAŢIONALE ÎN EUROPA
             CENTRALĂ ŞI DE EST

      THE ROLE OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN
       ATTRACTING MULTINATIONAL
   CORPORATIONS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN
                 EUROPE

                                                                                   Prof.dr. Nicolae BIBU
                                                                                Lect.dr. Laura BRANCU
                                                                        Universitatea de Vest din Timişoara


Abstract: The quality and availability of physical infrastructure represent an important factor in the
decision of localizing multinational companies(MC). Although capital inputs in Central and Eastern
European countries (CEE) have increased exceptionally during the last years, the distribution of direct
foreign investments (DFI) in these countries is unequal. Some countries like Hungary, Poland and the
Czech Republic received a bigger volume of DFI as compared to countries like Romania, Bulgary and
Russia. The objective of this article is to present the impact of infrastructure on the presence of MC in
CEE. Using an econometric panel analysis, this article analises the role of communication infrastructure,
transports and informational infrastructure in the decision of investing in the 13 CEEC between 1991-
2005. The specific literature regarding this subject is quite rare in these countries. We consider this
article completes this lack, contributing to a better understanding of the reasons of foreign presence in the
region.

Keywords: Direct foreign investments, infrastructure, Eastern and Central Europe