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FDI promotion through bilateral investment treaties: More than a bit?

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  • Busse, Matthias
  • Königer, Jens
  • Nunnenkamp, Peter

Abstract

Policymakers in developing countries have increasingly pinned their hopes on bilateral investment treaties (BITs) in order to improve their chances in the worldwide competition for foreign direct investment (FDI). However, the effectiveness of BITs in inducing higher FDI inflows is still open to debate. It is in several ways that we attempt to clarify the inconclusive empirical findings of earlier studies. We cover a much larger sample of host and source countries by drawing on an extensive dataset on bilateral FDI flows. Furthermore, we account for unilateral FDI liberalization, in order not to overestimate the effect of BITs, as well as for the potential endogeneity of BITs. Employing a gravity-type model and various model specifications, including an instrumental variable approach, we find that BITs do promote FDI flows to developing countries. BITs may even substitute for weak domestic institutions, though not for unilateral capital account liberalization.

Suggested Citation

  • Busse, Matthias & Königer, Jens & Nunnenkamp, Peter, 2008. "FDI promotion through bilateral investment treaties: More than a bit?," Kiel Working Papers 1403, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ifwkwp:1403
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    9. Xiaosong Wang & Huan Wu & Le Li, 2022. "Risks and Firms' Decision Making on Outward Foreign Direct Investment: An Empirical Analysis of China's State‐owned Enterprises," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 30(6), pages 163-182, November.
    10. Christian Bellak & Markus Leibrecht, 2019. "The Association of Economic Crises and Investor-State Arbitration Cases," Department of Economics Working Papers wuwp284, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Department of Economics.
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    18. Anokye M. Adam, 2013. "Currency Union And Foreign Direct Investment Inflow: Evidence From Economic Community Of West African States (Ecowas)," Far East Journal of Psychology and Business, Far East Research Centre, vol. 11(5), pages 73-81, May.
    19. Eichler, Stefan & Nauerth, Jannik A., 2024. "Bilateral investment treaties and portfolio investment," CEPIE Working Papers 01/24, Technische Universität Dresden, Center of Public and International Economics (CEPIE).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Multinational Corporations; Bilateral Investment Treaties; FDI;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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