Projects per year
Abstract
Using a unique database on investment funds and the conceptual framework of global financial networks, this paper examines the spatial structure of the European investment fund industry, with particular focus on Luxembourg and Ireland. Grounded in financial and economic geography, the paper shows how these countries became the leading investment fund domiciles through a mixture of structural factors and agency enabling a fast and flexible implementation of the European Directive on the Undertakings for the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) of 1985, and the cultivation of the investment fund industry ever since. In the process, Luxembourg and Ireland have built on and developed their functions as offshore jurisdictions and international financial centres, both sustained by their governments and regulatory agencies. The analysis of the functional structure of investment funds and their networked geography reveals the increasingly dominant position of London as the investment management centre for the industry, and the increasing concentration of control by large asset management firms. Stripped to its basics, the geography of European investment fund networks is about large, mainly US, asset management firms, creating and managing funds in Luxembourg and Ireland, and investing money through London. As such, the rise of European investment funds can be seen as an example of European financial integration through Americanisation. The Luxembourg and Irish investment fund industry are connected mainly through London and New York, and thus function as satellites of the NY-LON axis, rather than a Luxembourg-Dublin axis in international finance. Overall, the paper demonstrates that studying this seemingly arcane industry, and the role of two small countries in it, reveals much about the nature of financial globalization.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 514-528 |
Journal | Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers |
Volume | 47 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | Dec 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Research for this paper has been funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement number 681337). The paper reflects only the authors’ views and the ERC is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. We also acknowledge funding from the National Research Fund Luxembourg (INTER/FWO/16/11312037/FinWebs).Keywords
- Global financial networks
- European investment funds
- Luxembourg
- Ireland
Projects
- 1 Finished
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FINWEBS: Stabilising an unstable industry: The role of agency in interconnecting international financial centers
Dörry, S. (PI), Robinson, G. (CoI) & Derudder, B. (Host Institution)
Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Fonds National de la Recherche Luxembourg
1/09/17 → 31/12/22
Project: Research
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Hierarchical tendencies, functional specializations, and (in)stability across European banking centers
Musschoot, J., Derudder, B. & Dörry, S., Oct 2023, In: European Urban and Regional Studies. 30, 4, p. 446-464 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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OPC LUX: Climate Policy Observatory, Luxembourg, Annual Report 2023
Dörry, S., Ferrone, A., Kosch, M., Benetto, E., Dupont, C. & van Ypersele, J.-P., Oct 2023, Luxembourg: OPC LUX: Climate Policy Observatory. 54 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile -
The dark side of innovation in financial centres: legal designs and territorialities of law
Dörry, S., 4 Sept 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Regional Studies. p. 1-12Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile173 Downloads (Pure)