Determinants Of Foreign Direct Investment Research Articles

Determinants of foreign direct investments inflows into developing countries

FDI in developing countries remains weak. However, FDI can play an important role in the development of these countries which often have a low level of investment. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify the factors that affect FDI inflows into developing countries. We used the Driscoll and Kraay model and Factor Analysis for a panel of 53 developing countries from 1996 to 2019 to achieve this aim. The findings reveal that FDI inflows into developing countries are primarily affected by institutional quality. Political stability and regulatory quality are two institutional elements that have a favourable and large effect on FDI inflows into developing countries, but Voice and Accountability have a negative and significant effect. To attract more FDI, developing countries should invest heavily in infrastructure and ensure political stability with an effective legal system, and enact language policies that allow one or two foreign languages to be officially recognised.

The impact of financial development and corruption on foreign direct investment in developing countries

Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into developing countries play an important role in the dynamics of economic growth. Meanwhile, financial development (FDV) and corruption have been considered a determinant of FDI. Therefore, this study aims to assess the effect of FDV and corruption on FDI in developing countries. In addition, this study explores the combined impact of FDV and corruption on FDI. Furthermore, the data for 108 developing countries were collected from the World Development Indicators (WDI) of the World Bank from 1993 to 2017. The results showed that FDV has a positive and significant effect on FDI, while corruption does not have a statistically significant impact. This demonstrates that FDV has contributed to the growth of foreign investment and the important sources of financing for developing countries. However, the interaction between FDV and corruption has a negative effect on FDI. This implies that FDV followed by an increase in corruption tends to reduce FDI inflows. These results encourage policymakers to address issues regarding the joint impact of FDV and corruption on FDI in developing countries. AcknowledgmentThe authors would like to express their gratitude to three anonymous reviewers and seminar participants at Mulawarman University for their insightful comments.

Institutions and Foreign Direct Investment: What Role for Investment Policy in Southeast Europe?

Abstract Institutions are generally perceived as an important determinant of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Which institutions matter and why for FDI, remains however one of prominent questions in public policy debate amid complexities related to different institutional dimensions, and incomplete or even vague understanding of underlying mechanism(s) at work. In this paper we account for these ambiguities, and focus on institutions that reveal government efforts to design proper institutional and policy framework to attract FDI, as opposed to considering institutions in broader sense. Specifically, we contribute to FDI policy debate by analysing the impact of institutions measuring Investment policy and promotion on inward FDI flows in South East Europe (SEE). To this end we use a unique dataset that is comprised of specific, FDI related institutional indicators developed and published by the OECD. The results of this empirical investigation deeper our understanding on whether differences in FDI policies and institutional set-up across South East European (SEE) countries explain variations in inward FDI flows relaying on bilateral FDI flows and the gravity modelling technique. We bring novel evidence that investment policy efforts seemingly do pay off, highlighting the importance of progress and reforms embodied not only in FDI regulation, but also in FDI policy variables including FDI Promotion and Facilitation, Transparency, Privatisation policy and Public Private Partnership in attracting FDI in SEE. The analysed institutional effect properly accounts for the possible time-variant and context-dependant effect of institutions. The suggested importance of FDI policy variables seem valuable in terms of general FDI policy issues and trade-offs.

Analysis of determining factors of foreign direct industrial investment in the Manaus free trade zone through the oli paradigm / Análise dos fatores determinantes do investimento industrial direto estrangeiro na Zona Franca de Manaus através do paradigma oli

This paper aims to analyze the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Manaus Free Trade Zone (MFTZ), a special economic zone located in the Brazilian Amazon based on Dunning's eclectic paradigm. The theoretical foundation was carried out through bibliographic and documentary research in a literature review using scientific knowledge bases of articles, reports and technical documents to place the research in the context of foreign direct investment and Dunning's eclectic paradigm, in addition to presenting the MFTZ and its main characteristics. The results from the analysis shows the the relation between Free Zones and FDI and the socioeconomic indicators of the MFTZ that demonstrate the effect of local conditions of tax incentives for the decision of location and internalization and a predilection of the companies installed in the MFTZ for the FDI aimed at gain access to Brazilian market, demonstrated through the indicators analysis

An Analysis of Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in Banking Industry from Taiwan to ASEAN Countries with Gravity Model

This paper examined the choice of FDI location of Taiwanese banks’ FDI with a particular on a sample of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. The pattern and the determinants of Taiwanese banks’ FDI in ASEAN are investigated with gravity model framework and examined by panel data analysis from 2000 to 2019. It was found that Taiwanese banks generally preferred to directly invest in countries that had large market size, high economic freedom, closer geographical proximity, larger value of bilateral trade, and large amount of Taiwanese outward direct investment. Unlike previous studies, the results confirm that interest rate spread had relatively insignificant effects on the location choice of Taiwanese banks in ASEAN. Additionally, control of corruption in host countries seemed to have significantly negative effect on location choice of Taiwanese banks. The insights presented in this paper could offer useful suggestions for both governments and investors.

Determinants of FDI inflows to West Africa: Prospects for regional development and globalization

Abstract This paper examines the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow into West Africa. FDI is regarded as the central engine for growth. Such inflows are not often satisfactory, both in terms of their volume and in terms of their sectoral distribution, particularly in developing countries. The study carried out a unit root test using the Im-Pesaran-shin (IPS) method, which revealed that four out of many variables were stationary at first difference, while other variables were stationary at level. Consequently, the Kao co-integration test methodology was used to analyze the long-run relationship. Thus, the regression analysis was carried out using the Panel ARDL method in an equation with a 50-year observation period. Concerning the remaining seven equations with shorter time series observations, the Pooled OLS estimation method was used to analyze the factors determining the inflow of FDI. The results indicate that financial development has a negative effect on FDI flows (and hence on globalization processes) in West Africa, while trade openness, institutional composite index and control of corruption have positive effects on FDI and hence increase globalization tendency. Based on these findings, the study recommends, among other things, that the authorities in West African countries vigorously pursue trade liberalization policy as an effort to globalize the region through FDI inflows. The study examined the macroeconomic determinants on FDI alongside institutional and socio-political determinants that are difficult to study in the case of West Africa as a region. The use of a composite institutional quality index, which combines multiple indicators of institutional quality, is another novelty of this research. Another unique contribution of the study is the use of the Africa Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI), which serves as a composite infrastructure index, as an explanatory variable.

Explaining the global landscape of foreign direct investment: Knowledge capital, gravity, and the role of culture and institutions

AbstractIn this paper, we empirically re‐assess the question which theoretical motives and empirical models are most suitable to explain global patterns of foreign direct investment (FDI). Compared with previous studies, we use bilateral FDI positions with a much more comprehensive coverage of emerging and developing economies, the IMF's Coordinated Direct Investment Statistics. We apply cross‐validation to assess the performance of the gravity model and the knowledge capital (KK) model and add cultural, institutional and financial factors, as suggested by different theories on FDI determinants. We find the gravity model to achieve the best theory‐consistent out‐of‐sample prediction, particularly when parameter heterogeneity of South and North FDI is allowed for. Controlling for surrounding market potential is important to recover the horizontal effect of the gravity model. Our finding that the gravity model for FDI performs well but requires some degree of parameter heterogeneity and the inclusion of surrounding market potential provides a clear baseline for future empirical studies of FDI determinants. Inclusion of institutional, cultural or financial factors seems less relevant and does not improve the model performance distinctly, although results for those variables are mostly in line with theoretical predictions.

Factors encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI) in the wind and solar energy sector in an emerging country

This study bridges the current research gap by exploring the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the renewable energy sector in Bangladesh through the OLI and TCE theories. Based on semi-structured interviews with 13 experts, it investigates the determinants of firms' decision-making processes in the UK, Singapore, USA, Denmark, Thailand, China, and South Korea, conducting FDI in the renewable energy sector in Bangladesh. The results show that the institutional environment assumes the highest weight over macroeconomic and natural conditions for attracting FDI in Bangladesh's wind and solar energy projects. In the macro-economy, economic growth and access to local finance are important in attracting FDI. Contrarily, land availability assumes the highest importance for attracting FDI in the natural condition dimension.

COVID-19—A Black Swan for Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence from European Countries

This study aims to reconsider the role of foreign direct investment determinants for European national development and to analyze the impacts of the pandemic situation caused by COVID-19. Foreign direct investment is a source of development; therefore, this study includes empirical applications, specifically the random effect model, for EU countries, during the pandemic period. This study provides some valuable conclusions regarding the changes caused by the main determinants of foreign direct investment, such as unemployment, interest rates, economic growth, inflation, and business confidence. Additionally, the proxies of COVID-19 are the number of cases and number of deaths, both appearing to positively contribute to FDI outflow, the former with a higher impact than the latter. Based on the availability of the data, this paper deals with 22 European Union countries for Q1, Q2, and Q3 of 2020. Data for all the chosen variables were not available for the fourth quarter (Q4); thus, this period was not considered, which constitutes a limitation of this study, but confirms the need for robust FDI inflows to support the sustainable post-pandemic development recovery of less-developed EU countries. As the need for external funding sources, i.e., FDI inflow, grows in times of crisis, governments should take suitable measures to uplift the confidence of socially responsible foreign investors during difficult times generated by black swan events. There is almost no detailed research regarding the impact of COVID-19 on FDI flows received by European Union countries.

Global Crisis and Economic Fundamentals: Its Impact on Foreign Direct Investment in ASEAN Countries

Foreign direct investment has an important role in the running of a country's economy. This study aims to analyze the role of macroeconomic fundamentals consisting of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), interest rates, exchange rates, and exports in influencing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the ASEAN 6 region (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnamese). The data used are from 1990-2019 sourced from the World Bank and UNCTAD. The method used is panel data regression and time series with the best model selection, namely the Random Effect Model. The results of panel data analysis show that GDP, interest rates, exchange rates, and exports are the determinants of FDI in ASEAN 6 with a significant probability value. The positive direction coefficient is indicated by the GDP and exchange rate variables, while interest rates and exports indicate a negative direction coefficient. The results of the time-series data confirm that each country has similar results in the panel data analysis, but interest rates in Malaysia have the largest negative effect on FDI in Malaysia. Meanwhile, the exchange rate and exports contributed positively with the largest coefficient for Indonesia. The 1998 and 2008 economic crises were also found to have a negative impact on FDI but not significantly in some countries.

Global Crisis and Economic Fundamentals: Its Impact on Foreign Direct Investment in ASEAN Countries

Foreign direct investment has an important role in the running of a country's economy. This study aims to analyze the role of macroeconomic fundamentals consisting of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), interest rates, exchange rates, and exports in influencing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the ASEAN 6 region (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnamese). The data used are from 1990-2019 sourced from the World Bank and UNCTAD. The method used is panel data regression and time series with the best model selection, namely the Random Effect Model. The results of panel data analysis show that GDP, interest rates, exchange rates, and exports are the determinants of FDI in ASEAN 6 with a significant probability value. The positive direction coefficient is indicated by the GDP and exchange rate variables, while interest rates and exports indicate a negative direction coefficient. The results of the time-series data confirm that each country has similar results in the panel data analysis, but interest rates in Malaysia have the largest negative effect on FDI in Malaysia. Meanwhile, the exchange rate and exports contributed positively with the largest coefficient for Indonesia. The 1998 and 2008 economic crises were also found to have a negative impact on FDI but not significantly in some countries.

FDI and Institutions in BRIC and CIVETS Countries: An Empirical Investigation

In recent years, a number of countries with emerging economies have proceeded to use market-oriented strategies, deregulation and reforms in order to attract more foreign investors and attract foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. The present paper aims to empirically investigate the role of governance in attracting FDI using panel data and comparing two groups of fast-growing emerging countries, namely BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and CIVETS (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa). The study includes a panel data analysis using the latest available secondary data ranging from 2002 to 2019. Empirical models are extended and presented. The findings suggest that FDI inflows in BRICS are attracted by rule of law, regulatory quality, political stability and absence of violence, while CIVETS absorb FDI inflows due to control of corruption, political stability, absence of violence, regulatory quality and government effectiveness. The paper contributes to the existing literature since it is the first attempt to investigate the role of governance in attracting FDI in BRIC and CIVETS economies, taking into consideration other FDI determinants. To our knowledge, it is the first paper to study and compare FDI and institutional determinants in the specific groups of emerging countries.

Economic Factors and Foreign Direct Investment in India: A Correlation Study

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) plays a pivotal role in the process of economic development particularly in the capital scarce country, where the domestic base of created assets like technology, skills and entrepreneurship are quite limited. It provides financial resources for investment in a host country and thereby augments domestic saving efforts. It also plays an important role in accelerating the pace of economic growth. FDI provides the much-needed foreign exchange to help the bridge the balance of payment or trade deficit. FDI brings complementary assets such as technology, management and organizational competencies and there are spillover effects of these assets on the rest of the economy. FDI is treated as a main engine of economic growth and technological development which provides ample opportunities in accelerating economic development. FDI contributes to exports directly and an enhanced export possibility contributes to the growth of the host economies by relaxing demand side constraints on economic growth. The present study adds to the existing literature on determinants of FDI by examining the degree of correlation between FDI inflow in India and several economic factors like exchange rate, GDP, openness of trade etc.

The Impact of Recentralisation on FDI: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment

ABSTRACT Although decentralised governance has been one of the most salient political regimes worldwide over the past few decades, many countries have started to realise various shortcomings associated with their decentralisation process. As a consequence, a number of central governments have attempted to pursue recentralisation reforms in order to reclaim authority from the localities. This government reform can lead to significant changes in institutional arrangements, and subsequently, may influence various aspects of socio-economic activities. However, the real impact of recentralisation reform still remains ambiguous. In this paper, we examine how recentralisation may affect foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. We exploit the pilot recentralisation reform that temporarily abolished the intermediate legislative branches in some provinces in Vietnam as a quasi-natural experiment. The result shows that recentralisation leads to a significant reduction in FDI inflows. Our results are robust to a number of sensitivity analyses and falsification tests. Overall, our findings contribute to the literature on the determinants of FDI and provide new evidence on the real effect of recentralisation reform.

The determinant of Chinese foreign direct investments in oil exporting African countries

AbstractThe observed presence of China in the top 18 oil/minerals exporting countries in Africa warrants special interest, as the engagement has extended considerably to appear as an influential, hitherto questionable, South–South cooperation. In this study, the determinants of China's Foreign direct investment (FDI) stock and flow from 2003 to 2017 is examined using Ordinary least squares (OLS), generalized least squares (GLS) and Instrumental Variable 2‐Stage Least Squares techniques. The results indicate that oil/minerals and agricultural imports facilitate more FDI, and political instability spurs more FDI. Overall, this study recommends that policymakers should enhance trade policies to improve the sustainability of China–Africa engagement.

The impact of IFRS adoption on foreign direct investment in CIS

Abstract Exploring the relationship between International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows is the main objective of this paper. Although IFRS is identified as a determinant of FDI, a few studies have examined the impact of IFRS on FDI inflows, and it is unexplored as to whether IFRS impacts CIS countries. This paper covers ten (10) IFRS adopted CIS countries from 2000 to 2019 using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and bias-corrected Least Square Dummy Variable (LSDVC). OLS estimator shows that IFRS positively impacts FDI inflows. However, according to the results of LSDVC, there is a negative relationship between IFRS adoption and FDI inflows. Generally, in developing countries implementing IFRS would lead to FDI enhancement. The negative relationship between IFRS adoption and FDI inflows in CIS countries shows that IFRS is not an essential factor of FDI inflows.

Dynamic spatial effects of determinants of foreign direct investment: A case of the southern key economic region of Vietnam

ABSTRACTThe determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) always attract the attention of researchers and policymakers. However, the spatial spillovers of FDI have not been given due attention. This study analyses the dynamic spatial effects of determinants of FDI in emerging markets: a case of the southern key economic region of Vietnam. The model employed in the research is the Dynamic Spatial Durbin Model for testing hypotheses of data collected from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam in the period of 2005–2016. The results show that there is a spatial interaction in FDI attraction to the above‐mentioned region. At the same time, factors such as market size, trade openness, population growth, agglomeration and institutional quality affect FDI inflows in the short and long term. In particular, the population growth of a locality reduces FDI inflows of that locality and neighbouring localities. Enterprise agglomeration of a province increases the FDI inflows of that province and reduces FDI inflows in adjacent provinces. This paper's findings highlight the determinants of FDI and spatial spillovers of FDI in emerging markets. In addition, previous models have not fully identified the spatial effects of FDI in the short and long term, which may skew policy decisions. Therefore, the article contributes to redefining the key factors to attract FDI inflows into emerging markets like Vietnam.

Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in Indonesia

We examine what determines the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indonesia, focusing on the role of institutional measures. A knowledge-and-physical-capital (KPC) model is applied to a panel dataset that covers 42 of Indonesia’s FDI partners from 2004 to 2012. Evidence shows that both horizontal and vertical FDIs coexist in the bilateral aggregate data of Indonesia’s FDI flows, but horizontal FDI appears to be dominant. This can be explained by the market size (proxied by the total GDP of both countries and similarity in incomes per capita) and the relative factor endowments (proxied by skilled labor and physical capital). The vertical FDI, on the other hand, could be only explained by the significant effect of unskilled labor. Institutional factors, particularly corruption, are apparently important in affecting Indonesia’s bilateral FDI flows. The results also show that a higher FDI level in Indonesia positively correlates with macroeconomic factors, open policy factors, and utility infrastructure factors.

The Role of Institutional Linkages and Regional Institutions in the Location Choice of Outward Foreign Direct Investment: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Firms

Differently from the prior studies that look at the determinants of Outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) location choice, based on the institution theory and employing a comprehensive and unique micro-level dataset of Chinese firms, this study is the first to integrate institutional linkages (Confucius Institute) and regional institutions into one framework and looks at the role of the location choices of Chinese OFDI. The results show that Chinese firms prefer to invest in countries with the presence and higher number of Confucius Institutes including Confucius classrooms. Moreover, the institutional linkage of Confucius Institutes can alleviate the possible negative effects caused by the distance between China and the host country, which suggests Confucius Institutes help Chinese firms against liabilities of foreignness and risks and costs of operation in more distant host countries. We also find that the availability and quality of China’s regional institutions have a strong impact on local firms’ willingness and capability of participating.

Trends and Determinants of FDI with Implications of COVID-19 in BRICS

Foreign direct investment (FDI) movement to any country is recognized as an important criterion for economic strength and potentiality. Hence, the present study analyzes the motives of FDI inflows through the determinants and channels, namely horizontal or vertical FDIs and the impact of COVID-19 on FDI Inflows in BRICS countries during the period 1990–2020. The Kinked Exponential (deterministic) trend, and Zivot and Andrew’s trend equations are applied for the growth analysis of FDI inflows. Regarding the estimation of channels of FDI inflows in terms of horizontal, vertical, and hybrid motivations, dynamic panel data analysis using GMM for BRICS economies together and ARDL-PMG for individual countries is made. The findings show significantly positive growth in FDI inflows in all BRICS countries except India during the first decade of the present century. After that, these countries have experienced either significantly or insignificantly declining trends, except India, where the trend has significantly increased during this later period. From the overall analysis, we see that both horizontal and vertical motivations play a dominant role in determining FDI inflows for the BRICS countries. However, from country-wise estimations, it is observed that both horizontal and vertical motives are dominant factors for FDI inflows to India and Russia. In contrast, the horizontal motive of it is significant for China. For Brazil and South Africa, no motive behind FDI inflows appears significant. The pandemic situation significantly impacts attracting FDI in Brazil, while it remains insensitive in the rest of the BRICS countries. The findings reveal that FDI determinants are country-specific. So, the BRICS countries can design proper FDI policy and adopt more reforms in attracting FDI that may help improve their economic situation.