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The (Im)possibility of Distinguishing Horizontal and Vertical Motivations for FDI

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  • Maureen Lankhuizen

Abstract

Skill differences between parent and host countries are considered a key variable for distinguishing horizontal and vertical motivations within aggregate foreign direct investment (FDI). This paper tests the robustness of the skill difference term in the knowledge-capital model for FDI in a sample of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. The evidence in this paper indicates that skill differences per se do not properly explain FDI: the skill level of the host country is also important. This paper argues that both horizontal and vertical FDI may increase in the skill level of the host. It follows that the distinction between vertical and horizontal motivations for FDI with respect to skills is less straightforward than generally assumed in the literature.

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  • Maureen Lankhuizen, 2014. "The (Im)possibility of Distinguishing Horizontal and Vertical Motivations for FDI," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(1), pages 139-151, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:rdevec:v:18:y:2014:i:1:p:139-151
    DOI: 10.1111/rode.12074
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    2. Chellaraj,Gnanaraj & Mattoo,Aaditya & Chellaraj,Gnanaraj & Mattoo,Aaditya, 2015. "Can the knowledge capital model explain foreign investment in services ? the case of Singapore," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7186, The World Bank.
    3. Thompson, Edmund R. & Dericks, Gerard H. & Fai, Felicia, 2019. "Development and validation of a firm-level vertical and horizontal internationalization metric," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 533-543.

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