November 9, 2022
10:30 – 13:10 (CET)
Chair: dr hab. Paweł Pasierbiak, Head of the Department of World Economy and European Integration UMCS
| Prof. Sang Chul Park Korea Polytechnic University, Seul, South Korea The Economic Cooperation Strategy of Poland and South Korea Focused on Trade and FDI in the EU Market | Most economic growth strategies are keen to increase trade and FDI that are based on comparative competitiveness. South Korea has created a legacy known as the miracle of Han River, to succeed in rapid industrialisation focusing on trade and FDI in the global market. As a result, these aspects have become the core instruments in creating high economic growth over the last six decades. This strategy has been functioning properly in the EU market since the EU-Korea FTA was concluded in 2011. In order to develop the growth strategy continuously in the EU, South Korea needs proper strategic partners such as the Vise4 countries, and in particular Poland, with complementary industrial structures in the region. This paper aimed to analyse the two nations’ economic cooperation on the long-term basis, and find out why it matches them strategically and practically. |
| Dr. Quang Phung Thanh National Economics Unversity, Hanoi, Vietnam Investigating The Inward FDI And Green Economic Growth Relationship In The Southeast Asian Region | The objective of this study was to explore how FDI and green economic growth are related in Southeast Asian economies. To this end, a dynamic panel threshold model for the data over the period of 2000-2018 was employed. The main results proved that FDI positively impacts on the green growth progress of these economies, while the magnitude of this impact is stronger for the high fiscal policy development group of Southeast Asian economies. This result proves the ‘pollution halo’ hypothesis that claims that FDI may enhance green growth progress in a country. In addition, the empirical results illustrated evidence of a fiscal policy development threshold beyond FDI – a green growth linkage in Southeast Asian countries. As major practical policy implications, orienting the economic priorities to improve green fiscal policies, reforming the fiscal integration programmes, planning the creation of green jobs creation and implementing policies to attract FDI under COVID-19 are recommended. |
| Dr. Paramitaningrum Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta, Indonesia Strengthening the EU-ASEAN Partnership in post-pandemic times: preliminary research | In the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the world’s serious issues. Apart from the health problems, this pandemic has become a multi-aspect matter. Paradoxically, the pandemic also demonstrated how national interests compete with global and regional agreements due to the borderless characteristics and impacts of this issue. Interdependence and mobility contribute to making it a test case for international cooperation, including inter-regional agreements. For that reason, the pandemic has also become a test case for EU-ASEAN inter-regional cooperation. The EU and ASEAN countries individually have been working hard to fight this pandemic. However, both sides recognised the importance of inter-regional cooperation as one of the mechanisms to manage the impact of the pandemic. This paper elaborates on how the EU uses its strategic partnership mechanism toward ASEAN to strengthen its inter-regional relations. |
| Aung Tun Associate Fellow at ISEAS, Singapore The post-coup Myanmar: the impact of the military coup in Myanmar on the EU and the Asia-Pacific region | Myanmar has experienced its fourth coup since the military seized power on 1 February 2021. The impact of the coup has been enormous – not only within Myanmar but also the entire region – ASEAN, Asia Pacific, and beyond Asia, which is also the EU. International sanctions, as well as pressures from Myanmar’s regional partners, have been growing. However, different states have approached the military regime with their own different interests in mind, at the same time quite understandably. There is no concerted regional approach to Myanmar’s unfolding political crisis. A much-needed regional approach would be a determinant of Myanmar’s future. This paper explores the trends of Myanmar’s unfolding crisis in response to the regional approach. |
| Magdalena Szymczak University of Economics in Katowice, Poland Towards Sustainability: Polish-Korean Cooperation for Green Taxation | Environmental protection and sustainable development are becoming increasingly important in the 21st century. In response to these challenges, countries are introducing environmental policies. One of the instruments used is environmental taxes (green taxes). In recent years, Poland and South Korea have been implementing significant projects on political and economic grounds, therefore this study analysed whether cooperation and exchange of experience between the two countries could be another area of joint action. To achieve the goal, green taxes operating in Poland and South Korea were identified. Their relevance was compared and evaluated using the functions of green taxes as a criterion. Literature studies, the economic analysis of legal acts and the analysis of empirical data were used as research methods. A significant limitation of the study was the incompleteness of some of the data for South Korea. Nevertheless, environmental problems in similar areas, such as air pollution can provide a basis for developing cooperation. |
| Dr. Anna H. Jankowiak Wrocław University of Economics and Business, Poland An Overview of Current Cluster Policy Initiatives in Selected Asian Countries | One of the expected effects of shortening the supply chains caused by the recent pandemic was to place most of the production in one location. The increased concentration of production in selected locations may contribute to the creation of new clusters or the development of existing ones. Support from local authorities interested in attracting new businesses to the region may be especially needed during the economic downturn seen since the beginning of the pandemic. The article aims to present the current state, initiatives and tools of cluster policies in selected Asian economies during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Dr. Agnieszka Wójcik-Czerniawska SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland Cashless payment in Asia – revolution or threat? | In recent times, the financial market has recorded this as „digital payments revolution.” The standard finance industry’s environment has indeed been largely modified as a result of the rise of digital technologies such as cloud computing, intelligent systems, cryptocurrency and machine intelligence. Whenever consumers perceive that physically touching cash poses a significant impact on human health, they choose cashless transactions. The payment gateway revolution resulted from financial digitalisation. This paper attempts to comprehend the public’s perception of a cashless world which is moving away from cash. In the last few years, digital payment software has gone mainstream, but no area has welcomed the revolution more than Asia. In advanced nations, a cashless economy will lead in smooth, seamless, and minimal interactions. It also has the power to bring real social and economic benefits to disadvantaged countries. |
| Dr. Magdalena Grela-Chen Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland The Chinese-South Korean clothing war – from the social uproar to the political tension | The aim of the study was to analyse how the hanfu vs hanbok controversy crossed the barrier of the battle of words in the social media, and became a threat to the relations between China and South Korea on the political level. Hanbok is a traditional Korean clothing, while hanfu is the attire of the Han people. Hanfu was placed in the spotlight when Xi Jinping announced a move towards Chinese values and culture. Both countries use their national costume as an instrument of soft power. Initially, the disputes and accusations of stealing the costume were part of the nationalistic disputes then limited mostly to the Internet. The situation changed with the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics held in 2022 in Beijing. The appearance of the Korean minority wearing hanbok while holding the Chinese flag was a turning point which enraged South Korean politicians strongly opposed to the misappropriation of the symbol of their culture. There remains a question about the future consequences of these actions. |
| Dr. Anna Dzienis SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland Dr. Agnieszka McCaleb SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland Digital and green transitions pushing the automotive industry towards reconfiguration: evidence from China and Japan | Twin transition entails disruptions across the economy, business and society. Driven by tight regulations and new markets, traditional car manufacturers accept the challenge to participate in the ‘race’ to become green mobility companies. This paper identifies the economic and social consequences of twin transition in the automotive industry in China and Japan, and the reasons behind Sino-Japanese partnerships related to connected and autonomous new energy vehicles. Case studies of the institutional background of the transition in the automotive industry of both these countries, and of the role of Chinese companies in the process of Honda’s and Toyota’s reorganization towards green and digital cars, underscore the imperativeness of the change. Governments should increase their efforts to build the necessary social consciousness regarding the urgent need for this transition. The key findings indicate that the perspective of addressing social needs may replace the imposed ‘race’ with socio-economically sustained development. |
| Dr. Jarosław Osmolak Wrocław University of Economics and Business, Poland Recent effects of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Japan (an analysis of the period 02.2019-02.2021) | The author reveals the recent effects of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Japan. The research covered the two-year period since the EPA entered into force in February 2019 up to February 2021. The EPA is the most significant trade agreement of the EU that creates a trade zone for more than 600 million people. The EU-Japan EPA abolished most of the duties charged yearly on EU exports to Japan as well as the those on imported goods from the EU to Japan. The initial analysis was based on the European Commission’s data available for the first two years of the functioning of the EPA. |
