Question

Which integration theories drive integration the most?
Which integration theory would be supported by a large US corporation operating in the European market? Why?
Should long-time Member States contribute to EU structural funds that help enlargement countries financially, and that may then help to lure jobs and industries away to countries with cheap labour and low tax rates? If no, why?
Discuss the future of Europe. Would business benefit more from deeper or from wider integration?
It was reported by major analysts that the 10 enlargement countries of 2004 are losing out to India on wage costs and skilled labour advantages, and to China for R&D investment location. Why then are Baltic countries still booming?

Answer 1

Integrated theories are theories that combine the concepts and central propositions from two or more prior existing theories into a new single set of integrated concepts and propositions.
The most common form of integration involves combining social control and social learning theories.

Integration theories distinguish between “positive” and “negative” integration.
Most of the theorists see Eurpoe as an example of negative integration because the EU's resources are modest compared with those under the control of the member states.
The best known integration theory is the functionalist theory.

This contribution presents an institutionalist account of the conditions under which widening either impedes or encourages deepening.
We argue that the impact of widening on deepening depends on the position of the enlargement state relative to the preference distributions of existing member states.
Also, we argue that while expanding to a laggard may in some cases create short-term gridlock, it may also provide the impetus for institutional changes that facilitate deepening over the long-term.
We assess our argument empirically drawing on the European Union's own history and data on federal systems and international organizations.

While the relationship between widening and deepening is a central concern of many EU scholars, most analysis of this relationship remains ad hoc and a theoretical. This paper presents an institutionalist account of the conditions under which widening either impedes or encourages deepening.
We argue that the impact of widening on deepening depends on the position of the enlargement state relative to the preference distributions of existing member states. Widening is more likely to impede deepening with respect to an issue, if the enlargement state has an extreme anti-deepening position. However, while expanding to a laggard may create short-term gridlock, it may also provide the impetus for institutional changes that facilitate deepening over the long-term.
Lastly, widening can facilitate deepening by encouraging a move away from intergovernmental style decision-making. We assess our argument empirically drawing on the EU’s own history and data on federal systems and international organizations.

The boom of R&D is driven largely by the abundant S&T human resources of China. Some TNCs like IBM and Microsoft Research evaluate their R&D laboratories as a fundamental part of their global R&D activities. The mission of
these R&D laboratories is to become an international R&D centre, rather than a support laboratory serving the local market.
These R&D laboratories value not only the Chinese market, but also available talents and technological capacities.
The advantages of Beijing and Shanghai in particular, is in the great number of colleges and universities located
there, their large pool of S&T talents and, their well-developed industries.
A second reason to invest in R&D in China is to capture its huge internal market. Serving as a link between the
advanced technology of the TNCs and the specific demands of China, R&D laboratories can adapt foreign products and
technologies to local needs. For instance, a local R&D laboratory of Matsushita Electric Works adapts the technology
of the parent corporation for electrical appliances to Chinese specifications. With that adaptation, Matsushita has gained a
good share of the Chinese market.