Central Eastern Europe’s Pattern of Industrial Development and Regional Structure in Market Distribution

Purpose – Transnational corporations (TNCs) have influenced drastic changes (financial services, manufacturing, labor, technology transfer) in Central Eastern Europe (CEE). This paper examines the indirect changes in the CEE pattern of industrial development and market distribution. Research design, data, and methodology – Over 25 years, neighboring (or rival) countries competed to attract TNCs as a double-edged strategy for privatization and debt reduction. Through their experience attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), many countries started to reflect aspects of national capitalism. Countries also began to realize in 2010 that TNCs sought to enter markets with more favorable conditions for export- oriented manufacturing. Results – The analysis reveals that TNC investment strategies were aimed at eliminating local competition to acquire industrial "brown fields" to convert into "green fields." CEE countries have since strengthened their national systems and the support of large-scale state-owned enterprises and small and medium-sized start-up enterprises. Conclusions – CEE has changed based on industrial development and a regional structure of TNC market distribution and associated government policies. The pattern toward flexible markets gives countries the ability to further their economies.