Opposition to FDI and financial shocks

Abstract

We identify conditions under which emerging market's capitalists would oppose financial reform in an economy where entrepreneurs can borrow internationally, but foreign agents cannot hold domestic equity. A financial crisis that raises the domestic interest rate may induce the emerging market's capitalists to support opening up the economy to FDI. Even in these circumstances, the emerging market's capitalists would prefer a partial reform to a comprehensive one. If the attitude of capitalists is the obstacle to a comprehensive reform, a side payment from labor to the capitalists may be needed to induce a reform.