Sustainable International Investment Issues Examined in New Book from Vale Columbia Center

New York, Jan. 24, 2011— As foreign direct investment has become an integral feature of the globalized economy, a host of policy questions have begun to emerge about proper legal mechanisms and the best FDI practices for developing countries.

 

Now, a new book from the Vale Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment brings together experts on a wide range of issues to further the debate about FDI and look at major trends and events in the field.

 

“These are especially important issues to examine at a time when global FDI is beginning its recovery from the financial crisis and recession,” said Karl P. Sauvant, the center’s executive director and one of the editors of FDI Perspectives: Issues in International Investment.

Global FDI inflows rose to $1.1 trillion, the latest year for which figures are available. That represents a more-than-fivefold increase since 1990, although it had fallen in the wake of the crisis.

 

“Clearly, national investment policies have become more liberal throughout the world,” Sauvant said. “But it’s also crucial to ensure that investment is done right. We’re starting to see a greater tension between investors’ rights and the rights and responsibilities of host countries. Hopefully, this book can be part of discussions toward resolving such conflicts.”

 

The book brings together a series of notes about FDI the Vale Center has issued since 2008 in order to keep readers abreast on the latest FDI developments. Among the notes is one from 2008, where Sauvant correctly forecasted an FDI recession. Also contributing is Hans Smit, the Stanley H. Fuld Professor Emeritus of Law, who questioned the wisdom of party-appointed arbitrators to settle disputes.

 

FDI Perspectives is available for free download at http://www.vcc.columbia.edu/files/vale/content/PerspectivesEbook.pdf. For a list of other Vale Columbia Center publications, visit http://www.vcc.columbia.edu/.

 

 

The Vale Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment (VCC) seeks to be a leader on issues related to foreign direct investment (FDI) in the global economy, paying special attention to the sustainability dimension of this investment. It focuses on the analysis and teaching of the implications of FDI for public policy and international

investment law. Its objectives are to analyze important topical policy-oriented issues related to FDI, develop and disseminate practical approaches and solutions, and provide students with a challenging learning environment. For more information, please see http://www.vcc.columbia.edu.

 

Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, stands at the forefront of legal education and of the law in a global society. Columbia Law School joins its traditional strengths in international and comparative law, constitutional law, administrative law, business law and human rights law with pioneering work in the areas of intellectual property, digital technology, sexuality and gender, criminal, national security, and environmental law.

 

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