Reputations, Perceptions, and International Economic Agreements

Who commits to the rule of law? Constrained government and foreign direct investment in postcommunist states

“…The coefficient on this variable is large, indicating a strong estimated influence for perceived rule of law scores-greater than any other individual variable. These results show the power of the EU to influence perceptions of governance and provide added support to arguments found in Gray (2009), Gray and Hicks (2014), Svejnar (2002), Plümper et al (2005), Bevan and Estrin (2000), Claessens, Oks, andPolastri (1998), andKaminski (2001). Those evaluating the rule of law may not deem credible postcommunist countries' institutional reforms-especially in the short term.…”

“…However, these reforms may not be sustainable and therefore credible on their own. Instead, closing each chapter of negotiations acts as an external confirmation of the country's suitability to join the EU -and of decreased future political risk associated with its debts, private property, and general business climate (Tomz 2012;Gray and Hicks 2014). Preparing to join the EU and other international organisations can thus allow governments to make commitments to a favourable legal and business environment by making reforms to satisfy external arbiters with more established credibility.…”

Survey Research in International Political Economy: Motivations, Designs, Methods

“…Julia Gray and Raymond P. Hicks (2014) study international investment behavior. Extending earlier observational work, they ask whether perceptions of investment prospects change depending on a country's formal associations with other countries.…”

Introduction: Survey and Experimental Research in International Political Economy

“…This is because laboratory experiments-although increasingly popular in international relations (IR) (for example, Tingley and Walter 2011;Tomz 2007)-are less frequently used in IPE. Gray and Hicks' (2014) article in this volume includes a laboratory component (if not a full-fledged laboratory experiment) in their empirical research design.…”