Net Foreign Direct Investment Inflows Research Articles

Linkages Between Globalisation, Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study investigates linkages between environmental degradation, globalisation and governance in 44 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa using data for the period 2000-2012. The Generalised Method of Moments is employed as empirical strategy. Environmental degradation is proxied by carbon dioxide emissions whereas globalisation is appreciated in terms of trade openness and net foreign direct investment inflows. Bundled and unbundled governance indicators are used, namely: political governance (consisting of political stability/no violence and “voice & accountability”), economic governance (encompassing government effectiveness and regulation quality), institutional governance (entailing corruption-control and the rule of law) and general governance (a composite measurement of political governance, economic governance and institutional governance). The following main finding is established. Trade openness modulates carbon dioxide emissions to have positive net effects on political stability, economic governance, the rule of law and general governance.

The Impact of FDI Inflows, Exports and Domestic Investment on Economic Growth in Africa

The topic regarding the impact of foreign direct investment net inflows, exports and domestic investment on economic growth has resulted in mixed research findings across the globe. Literature related to the above variables in five selected African countries drawn from the five sub-regions is critically reviewed in this article. Furthermore, an econometric analysis of these variables is done to ascertain their impact on economic growth. The findings are compared to previous findings in other studies. The researcher found similar results in some variables when compared to previous researches in other countries. The study found that the independent statistical variables significantly predicted gross domestic product, with F (3, 63) = 5.84, P > F 0.0014, R2 = 0.2176, adjusted R2 = 0.1804 and root mean squared error (RMSE) = 0.54976. The independent variables added significantly to the prediction of p < 0.05. The researcher challenges the notion that the impact of foreign direct investment net inflows, exports and domestic investment on economic growth should always be positive and significant. This study provides a refreshed appreciation of the relationship between foreign direct investment net inflows, exports, domestic investment and economic growth in light of rapid socioeconomic changes in the sampled countries. The article also proposes some critical considerations regarding this relationship.

Antecedents and short-run causal relationship between foreign direct investment and infrastructure development in Ghana

This paper examines the antecedents and short-run causal relationships between foreign direct investment (FDI) and infrastructure development in Ghana. Using time series data spanning 1966-2015, we find that that FDI net inflows positively influences electricity consumption in Ghana; however, electricity consumption does not granger-cause FDI net inflows. The results further indicate that the electricity consumption shocks contribute 100 percent of the variance in the one-period-ahead forecast error for electricity consumption growth. An important implication of the findings is that, governments need to liberalize FDI policies for investments by multinational corporations since FDI contributes to infrastructure development.

Antecedents and short-run causal relationship between foreign direct investment and infrastructure development in Ghana

This paper examines the antecedents and short-run causal relationships between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and infrastructure development in Ghana. Using time series data spanning 1966-2015, we find that that FDI net inflow positively influences electricity consumption in Ghana; however, electricity consumption does not Granger-cause FDI net inflows. The results further indicate that the electricity consumption shocks contribute 100% of the variance in the one-period-ahead forecast error for electricity consumption growth. An important implication of the findings is that, governments need to liberalise FDI policies for investments by multinational corporations since FDI contributes to infrastructure development.

Economic and Institutional Determinants of FDI in the Chilean Case: An Empirical Analysis, 1960-2014

This paper examines some of the major economic and institutional factors underlying the surge in foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to Chile during the more recent 1990-2014 period. It reports econometric results which suggest that standard economic variables and major changes in the institutional-legal status of foreign capital are, in large measure, responsible for the rapid increase in net FDI inflows to leading sectors of the Chilean economy. Cointegration analysis and error-correction modeling suggest that market size, the real exchange rate, the debt-service ratio, education, physical infrastructure, and the Fraser Institute’s economic freedom index are economically significant in explaining the variation in net FDI inflows to the country. Dummy variables, designed to capture qualitative factors such as the impact of economic crises and institutional reforms, are also included and they have their anticipated signs and are statistically significant. The paper also addresses the long-term negative effects of rapidly growing profit and dividend remittances on the financing of capital formation and the Chilean balance of payments in recent years.

The Relevance of Political Stability on FDI: A VAR Analysis and ARDL Models for Selected Small, Developed, and Instability Threatened Economies

This paper studies the relevance of political stability on foreign direct investment (FDI) and the relevance of FDI on economic growth, in three panels. The first panel contains 11 very small economies; the second contains five well-developed and politically stable economies with highly positive FDI net inflows, while the third is a panel with economies that are prone to political violence or targeted by the terrorist attacks. We employ a Granger causality test and implement a vector autoregressive (VAR) framework within the panel setting. In order to test the sensitivity of the results and avoid robust errors, we employ an ARDL model for each of the countries within every panel. Based upon our results, we conclude that there is a long-term relationship between political stability and FDI for the panel of small economies, while we find no empiric evidence of such a relationship for both panels of larger and more developed economies. Similarly to the original hypothesis of Lucas (1990), we find that FDI outflows tend to go towards politically less stable countries. On the other hand, the empiric methodology employed did not find such conclusive evidence in the panels of politically more developed countries or in the small economies that this paper observes.

Assessing marginal, threshold, and net effects of financial globalisation on financial development in Africa

This paper contributes to the extant literature by simultaneously accounting for variations in financial development and financial globalisation in the assessment of hypothetical initial financial development conditions for the rewards of financial globalisation. For this purpose, we examine marginal, threshold and net effects of financial globalisation on financial development throughout the conditional distributions of financial development. The empirical evidence is based on contemporary and non-contemporary quantile regressions with data from 53 African countries for the period 1996–2011. Financial globalisation is measured with net foreign direct investment inflows, whereas financial development entails all dimensions identified by the Financial Development and Structure Database of the World Bank. The findings consistently reveal (i) positive marginal effects, (ii) unfeasible financial globalisation positive thresholds and (iii) negative financial globalisation net effects. The second and third findings are fundamentally due to marginal effects of low positive magnitude. Policy implications are discussed.

Forecasting Foreign Direct Investment to Zambia: A Time Series Analysis

Three methods are considered in this paper: Simple exponential smoothing (SES), Holt-Winters exponential smoothing (HWES) and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA). The best fit model was then used to forecast Zambia’s annual net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows from 1970 to 2014. Foreign direct investment is foreign capital investment to Zambia. Throughout the paper the methods are illustrated using Zambia’s annual Net FDI inflows. A comparison of the three methods shows that the ARIMA (1, 1, 5) is the best fit model because it has the minimum error. Forecasting results give a gradual increase in annual net FDI inflows of about 44.36% by 2024. Forecasting results plays a vital role to policy makers. Decision making, coming up with good policies and suitable strategic plans, depends on accurate forecasts. Zambian FDI policy makers can use the results obtained in this study and create suitable strategic plans to promote FDI.

Do Capital Flows Matter to Stock and House Prices? Evidence from China

ABSTRACTThis article analyzes the impacts of foreign direct investment (FDI) and short-term capital flows, otherwise known as hot money, on stock and house prices in China. Empirical results, estimated using the local projections approach, reveal that a positive hot money net inflow shock significantly increases stock and house prices and the impacts persist for up to 1–2 months, while a positive FDI net inflow shock contributes significantly to lagged house price appreciation but has no effect on stock prices. This study also identifies negative pass-through effects of FDI net inflows on hot money net inflows and positive pass-through effects of stock prices on house prices.

Causal nexus between foreign direct investment and economic growth

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to determine cause and effect relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth (gross domestic product (GDP) taken as proxy) for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS nations) individually for the period 1992-2013. Also, the study tries to explore the reasons behind the linkage between FDI and GDP by estimating a linear regression model consisting of both macro-economic and institutional variables.Design/methodology/approach– Johansen cointegration technique followed by vector error correction model (VECM) and standard Granger causality test are employed to investigate the causal linkage between FDI and GDP. To delve into the reasons behind this linkage, an ordinary least square (OLS) technique is also applied to test the linear regression model consisting of net FDI inflows as dependent variable and nine macro- economic and institutional variables. Residual diagnostics is also conducted using Breusch-Godfrey Lagrange Multiplier test for diagnosing the problem of serial correlation, Breusch-Pagan-Godfrey test for examining heteroskedasticity and Jarque Bera test for verifying the normality of residuals.Findings– The Johansen cointegration result establishes a single cointegrating vector (long run relationship) between FDI and GDP for India, China and Brazil. After proving a cointegration, VECM results revealed that there exists unidirectional long run causality running from GDP to FDI in case of Brazil, India and China. Also, it is confirmed that there exists short run causality between FDI and GDP in China, i.e. the past lags of FDI jointly impact the value of GDP. However, for Russia and South Africa, where there is no cointegration in the long run, standard Granger causality test is conducted which reveals that in both the nations, FDI and GDP are independent of one another. The results of OLS technique reveal different country-specific factors causing this linkage between FDI inflows and economic growth.Originality/value– Various researchers in the past have examined this issue of linkage between FDI and GDP in the context of various developing or developed nations. This reveals a gap in the existing literature pertaining to this causal linkage in the context of the BRICS. Thus, this study fills this gap by analyzing not just this causal nexus with the help of VECM and Granger causality techniques but also tries to explore further the reasons for such strong/weak/no link with the help of fitting a regression model which comprises of both macro-economic and institutional country-specific variables influencing this causation.

Foreign direct investment inflows on tax revenues in the transition economies of european union

There have been significant increases in the flows of foreign direct investment inflows in the world together with the globalization process as of 1980s. In this regard, this study examines the impact of foreign direct investment inflows on the tax revenues in the selected transition economies of the European Union including Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia and Slovenia during the period 1996-2012 by using Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012) causality test. We found that there was unidirectional causality from foreign direct investment net inflows to the tax revenues, and also there was unidirectional causality from foreign direct investment net inflows to the economic growth.Keywords: Tax revenues, foreign direct investment inflows, economic growth, panel data analysis

Foreign direct investment inflows on tax revenues in the transition economies of european union

There have been significant increases in the flows of foreign direct investment inflows in the world together with the globalization process as of 1980s. In this regard, this study examines the impact of foreign direct investment inflows on the tax revenues in the selected transition economies of the European Union including Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia and Slovenia during the period 1996-2012 by using Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012) causality test. We found that there was unidirectional causality from foreign direct investment net inflows to the tax revenues, and also there was unidirectional causality from foreign direct investment net inflows to the economic growth.Keywords: Tax revenues, foreign direct investment inflows, economic growth, panel data analysis

Foreign direct investment inflows on tax revenues in the transition economies of european union

There have been significant increases in the flows of foreign direct investment inflows in the world together with the globalization process as of 1980s. In this regard, this study examines the impact of foreign direct investment inflows on the tax revenues in the selected transition economies of the European Union including Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia and Slovenia during the period 1996-2012 by using Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012) causality test. We found that there was unidirectional causality from foreign direct investment net inflows to the tax revenues, and also there was unidirectional causality from foreign direct investment net inflows to the economic growth. Keywords: Tax revenues, foreign direct investment inflows, economic growth, panel data analysis

An analysis of net FDI drivers in BRIC countries

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to identify the main drivers which can explain the relative success of BRIC countries (i.e. Brazil, Russia, India and China), collectively and individually, in attracting foreign direct investment (FDIs). Unlike previous studies that have identified gross domestic product (GDP) as a major determinant, we find that for the sampling period 1980-2008, social variables (namely, high population growth and educated labor) and political variables account for 40 and 7 per cent of the variance in net inward FDI, respectively, and no importance for economic variables. Interestingly, for a sub-period (1999-2008), we observe the salience of financial (namely, sizable GDP economy, favorable net trade balance and controlled currency risk and sovereign debt risk) determinants of inward FDI (R2 is 44 per cent). On the other hand, when testing individual countries, it seems that FDI determinants are not universal as each country enjoys different characteristics and sources of strengt...

Financial Globalisation and Financial Development in Africa: Assessing Marginal, Threshold and Net Effects

The present inquiry contributes to extant literature by simultaneously accounting for variations in financial development and financial globalisation in the assessment of hypothetical initial financial development conditions for the rewards of financial globalisation. The policy relevance for assessing these variations simultaneously builds on the intuition that, thresholds for financial development benefits of financial globalisation may also be contingent on initial levels of financial development. For this purpose, we examine marginal, threshold and net effects of financial globalisation on financial development throughout the conditional distributions of financial development. The empirical evidence is based on contemporary and non-contemporary quantile regressions with data from 53 African countries for the period 1996-2011. Financial globalisation is measured with Net Foreign Direct Investment inflows whereas financial development entails all dimensions identified by the Financial Development and Structure Database of the World Bank. The findings consistently reveal: (i) positive marginal effects, (ii) unfeasible financial globalisation positive thresholds and (iii) negative financial globalisation net effects. The second and third findings are fundamentally due to marginal effects of low positive magnitude. Policy implications are discussed.

Political risk spreads

We introduce a new, market-based and forward looking measure of political risk derived from the yield spread between a country’s U.S. dollar debt and an equivalent U.S. Treasury bond. We explain the variation in these sovereign spreads with four factors: global economic conditions, country-specific economic factors, liquidity of the country’s bond, and political risk. We then extract the part of the sovereign spread that is due to political risk, making use of political risk ratings. In addition, we provide new evidence that these political risk ratings are predictive, on average, of future risk realizations using data on political risk claims as well as a novel textual-based database of risk realizations. Our political risk spread measure does not make the mistake of double counting systematic risk in the evaluation of international investments as some conventional measures do. Furthermore, we show how to construct political risk spreads for countries that do not have sovereign bond data. Finally, we link our political risk spreads to foreign direct investment. We show that a one percent point reduction in the political risk spread is associated with a 12 percent increase in net-inflows of foreign direct investment.

Does Chinese investment affect Sub-Saharan African growth?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on GDP growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with particular emphasis on Chinese FDI. Design/methodology/approach – Based on the growth accounting model, a dynamic GMM estimation is used. To compare the results with previous findings, the paper also uses OLS and fixed effect estimates. Findings – The paper finds that neither FDI net inflows in SSA nor Chinese FDI has a significant effect on economic growth in SSA. By testing other economic growth determinants in SSA countries based on growth accounting theory, the paper finds the change in capital stock per labor has a persistent and significant positive impact on growth in SSA. Originality/value – This study provides new evidence on the influence of Chinese FDI on the growth of the SSA economies. There are very few empirical studies that analyze the growth of the SSA economies from a macroeconomic perspective using a partial equilibrium model. This paper tests th...

Positive and Negative Impact of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) on a Country’s Economic Development

Over the past three decades, the world has witnessed massive growth in Financial markets both in terms of their scale and scope. The global value of financial assets including equities, government and private debt, and bank deposits increased from mere US$ 12 trillion during 1980 to US$ 64 trillion in 1995, and further, it has grown to US$ 140 trillion by 2005. The global financial assets have grown more than ten-fold within a quarter-century. The growth of financial assets has far outstripped the global GDP growth which has increased from US$ 10.1 trillion to US$ 44.5 over this period. The increase in cross-border financial activity has been increased even more unprecedentedly for the last few decades. Worldwide cross-border capital flows –which include foreign purchases of equity and debt securities, cross-border lending, and foreign direct investment (FDI)-have grown at an average annual rate of 10.7% since 1990 and reached a level exceeding US$ 6 trillion in 2005 (Farrell cited in anon 2011). As Escaleras (2011) argued that in order to appreciate the dynamism of FDI it is important to recognize that total net foreign direct investment inflows rose from about $10 billion in 1975 to an astonishing $532 billion in 2004. Natural disasters around the globe also increased dramatically during the past half-century. Exhibit-3 depicts the growth in major, destructive natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, landslides, and windstorms for the period 1935-2004 (Escaleras 2011). In this paper, we will explore the mechanism of Foreign Direct Investment, how it is contributing towards the development of a country’s economy, and moreover improving the standard of living of the particular countries. We will also examine why FDI is important for the developing world for eliminating poverty. Also, we will critically analyze the negative side of FDI and its negative influences on a country’s economy and cultural aspects. Finally, we will examine and correlate the increase in natural disasters and the FDI flow of the respective countries.

Impact of Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth in Ghana: A Cointegration Analysis

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been an important source of economic growth for Ghana, bringing in capital investment, technology and management knowledge needed for economic growth. This paper aims to study the relationship between FDI and economic growth in Ghana for the period 1980-2010 using time series data. The data used in this study was mainly secondary data collected from the period, 1980 to 2010 consisting of yearly observations for each variable. The real GDP growth and foreign direct investment net inflows as percent of GDP (FDI ratio) data were taken from the World Banks World Development Indicators 2011 CD Rom. Yearly time series data covering the period 1980-2010 for which data was available was used. The cointegration methodology is applied on yearly data of FDI, GDP and GNI to determine the extent to which these variables are related. The study establishes that a long-run equilibrium and causal relationship exists between the dependent variable; FDI and the two independent variables under consideration namely, GDP and GNI. It was determined that in the short-run, effects of GDP and GNI volatility on FDI are nearly imaginary. These findings hold practical implications for policy makers, government and investors.

Factors affecting CO2 emission in the Middle East: A panel data analysis

This study investigated the major factors that influence the CO2 emission in 12 Middle Eastern countries, namely, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen. A panel model was used in this study and the period 1990–2009 was considered. The results showed that the total primary energy consumption, foreign direct investment net inflows, GDP, and total trade were important factors in increasing CO2 emission in the investigated countries. Thus, it is important for these counties to examine the requirements for foreign investment to promote environmental protection and increase the technological transfer through foreign companies to reduce the environmental damage. It is also important for them to adopt trade-related measures and policies to increase environmental protection since total trade increases CO2 emission. It is also crucial for these countries to increase energy productivity to achieve their GDP growth.