Events
Quinlan argues transatlantic economic ties are strong October 24, 2005 / Brussels, Paris, Ankara
GMF Transatlantic Fellow Joseph Quinlan recently completed a swing through Brussels, Paris, and Ankara, where, in conjunction with GMF offices in those cities, he presented his research showing that the transatlantic economy is as robust and vital as ever. Promoting his latest study, “Deep Integration,” Quinlan, chief market strategist for Bank of America Capital Management, argued that American firms with affiliates in Europe, and European firms with affiliates in U.S. continue to grow their roots on foreign soil. Strong growth in the United States keeps European companies doing well. In the future, he sees the transatlantic services sector—telecom, financial services, and other non-manufacturing industries—as the sleeping giant of the transatlantic economy. He also said the U.S. and European governments are looking inward too much, and that China and India aren’t as big of threats as people think they are. China and India will be “part of the world, not rule the world,” Quinlan said in Brussels. “I don’t fear a strong China or India, I fear a weak China and India.” China in particular suffers from a fragile financial sector, closed markets, and government corruption, he said. Discussed to some degree in Brussels and Paris, Quinlan’s research on Turkey was the main focus of his Ankara visit. Quinlan emphasized that as Turkey’s EU accession talks march forward, Turkey will be brought more into “Euro-convergence,” meaning that rules and regulations will be standardized and harmonized. This will help Turkey attract foreign capital from both American and European companies, creating a “virtuous cycle.” Quinlan emphasized that multinational corporations are not necessarily seeking cheap labor, but rather high-skilled workers, which Turkey has shown it can offer to the automobile industry. Quinlan also argued that with its strategic location, substantial resources, large consumer market, and sizeable labor force, Turkey is already an attractive market for foreign direct investment.



